COVID-19

Implications for Canada and the economic impact

Updated  April 1, 2020

Things are changing quickly, and an evidence-based perspective on coronavirus is essential.

This site is our go-to resource for insights and analysis on COVID-19. Here, we bring you quick-read articles based on our multi-disciplinary research. Each article gives you a fact-based understanding of the complex issues impacting you and your organization.

Check this space often for the latest updates, data, forecasts, research on the growing spread of coronavirus, and useful tools that will help you and your organizations navigate these challenging times.

 All resources listed on this page are free.

On this page

Message from the CEO

Here at The Conference Board of Canada, we have made the decision to give all Canadians access to our up-to-date and timely economic reports during this global pandemic. In times of crisis it is important we do what we can to help one another. Please make use of our additional free resources such as webinars, informative blogs, and a special mental health COVID video series.

We continue to deliver our unique, unbiased insight into Canada’s toughest problems so leaders can make informed decisions. As we move through these uncertain times, we are also innovating our research and products to respond to new challenges and to re-build an even stronger Canada.

Susan Black

Dr. Susan Black, CEO

The Conference Board of Canada

Daily updates

The Conference Board of Canada stands ready to provide Canadian leaders with the insights they need to confidently navigate the shifting realities of COVID-19.

Free resources

Best practices: Return to work, disability management, and COVID-19

Webinar  April 9 @ 2 p.m.

Optimizing outcomes during COVID-19: The urgent need for data sharing

Webinar  April 3 @ 2 p.m.

Challenges escalating for Canada’s oil and gas sector

Blog  March 31, 2020

Five Canadian cities most at risk due to COVID-19’s impact on the accommodation and food services sector

Blog  March 31, 2020

COVID-19 could cause a permanent shift to working remotely

Blog  March 30, 2020

Bank of Canada introduces wide range of measures to limit economic damage

Blog  March 27, 2020

The impact of COVID-19 on the restaurant industry

Blog  March 27, 2020

Managing an unexpected remote workforce

Webinar  March 26, 2020

Contact us

General inquiries

1-866-711-2262

Media inquiries

E-mail media
1-866-242-0075

Event inquiries

E-mail registrar

Videos

Mental health and COVID-19

Join the conversation with Dr. Bill Howatt, Chief of Research, Workplace Productivity

The contents of these videos is provided for general information only. It is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Recorded webinars and interviews

Economic impact

Updated Canadian economic forecast

Canada’s economic growth ground to a halt in the fourth quarter of 2019. With the economy already on precarious footing, the added shocks of the recent rail blockade protests, the arrival of COVID-19, and a collapse in oil prices have brought the country to the brink of recession.

The Canadian economy grew by just 0.3 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2019, its weakest performance since the second quarter of 2016. The sluggishness was the result of declines in business investment and exports, which were only partially offset by continued strength in consumer spending.

Now, with the economy being hit by a slew of additional shocks, we expect business investment and exports to post substantial declines and consumer spending to ease. As a result, economic growth will contract by a projected 2.7 per cent in the second quarter. However, growth should resume in the third quarter, allowing the economy to avoid a technical recession. Unfortunately, there are huge downside risks to our outlook due to the unpredictability of the coronavirus pandemic. Overall, we expect growth of just 0.3 per cent in 2020 followed by a rebound to 2.5 per cent growth in 2021.

Download the Spring 2020 summary

Canada teeters on the brink of recession

(real GDP growth, per cent)

2017 18 19 20f 21f 22f 23 24f 0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 Forecast

f = forecast
Sources: The Conference Board of Canada; Statistics Canada.

Consumer confidence plummets as COVID-19 fears spread

The Index of Consumer Confidence fell 32.0 points in March, the largest monthly decline ever.

Canadians are anxious about the coronavirus. This has implications for Canada’s economy given that consumers have been the main engine of economic growth. With people being encouraged to self-isolate, large gatherings being mostly cancelled, and tourism activity drying up, many Canadians are staying home, which will have a profound impact on economic growth.

There were no positives in this month’s survey—every region saw a double-digit decline in confidence and every question saw a significant weakening in responses.

View the March 2020 website

Index of consumer confidence

(2004 = 100)

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 79 84 89 94 99 104 109 114 119 124 129

Source: The Conference Board of Canada.

Safety of our people

Safety is of paramount importance to us. We are putting our employees, customers, and the community first, and are doing our part to help limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus. As of Friday, March 13, 2020, The Conference Board of Canada’s employees will be working remotely until further notice.

Our business operations are ongoing and we will continue to provide timely research, data, and insights to help you and your organization navigate through these unprecedented times. We also remain available for customer and media inquiries via e-mail and telephone.

Woman working on laptop in her kitchen; laptop closeup

Latest news

Current insights

Pump jack at silhouetted by setting sun

Challenges escalating for Canada’s oil and gas sector

Blog  March 31, 2020

Hands choppping an onion on a cutting board

Five Canadian cities most at risk due to COVID-19’s impact on the accommodation and food services sector

Blog  March 31, 2020

Woman working on her laptop, wearing headphones

COVID-19 could cause a permanent shift to working remotely

Blog  March 30, 2020

Hand inserting a bank card into an ATM machine

Bank of Canada introduces wide range of measures to limit economic damage

Blog  March 27, 2020

Empty tables and chairs in a restaurant

The impact of COVID-19 on the restaurant industry

Blog  March 27, 2020

Hand on laptop with video chat on the screen

Maintaining morale now and into the future

Blog  March 26, 2020

Town in northern Canada

Addressing the causes of Indigenous vulnerability to pandemics—not just the symptoms

Blog  March 26, 2020

Man sitting with chin on hands, wife and child in background

Most vulnerable to be hardest hit by the COVID-19 economic downturn

Blog  March 23, 2020

Speaking woman pointing to board

Everyone is a leader now

Blog  March 20, 2020

Canadian flag

Can Canada weather the economic ravages of COVID-19?

Blog  March 19, 2020

Woman wearing headphones

How employers and employees should manage self-quarantines

Blog  March 19, 2020

People pushing a pallet through a warehouse

Leading through rapid change

Blog  March 18, 2020

People pushing a pallet through a warehouse

Merchandise exports plummet in January

Blog  March 6, 2020

Woman working at table, head in her hand

Insulating for isolation: A mental health checklist for getting through quarantine

Blog  March 4, 2020

Looking up a skyscrapper from between two columns

Bold rate cut signals unease about economic growth prospects

Blog  March 6, 2020

Canadian twenty dollar bills

The Canadian economy should brace for the effects of COVID-19

Blog  February 28, 2020

Screen showing stock market resuts

Disappointing economic growth in fourth quarter

Blog  February 28, 2020

Available research

 All resources listed below are free.

Hands working on a laptop

Working through COVID-19: Remote work policies and compensation survey

Website  March 25, 2020

Worker hammering on roof trusses

Metropolitan housing starts: March 2020

Website  March 23, 2020

Woman hugging herself looking to the cityline

Economic implications of social distancing

Website  March 23, 2020
(Download briefing)

Front of house with a for sale sign

Metropolitan resale housing: March 2020

Website  March 19, 2020

Hands going through a rack of shirts

Index of consumer confidence: March 2020

Website  March 18, 2020

Woman on a cell phone in front of a building

Canadian outlook summary: Spring 2020

Report  March 17, 2020

Man reading data on a screen

Provincial outlook summary: Winter 2020

Website  February 27, 2020

Co-workers sitting in chairs in a circle

Building a culture of collaboration: Transforming the way Canadians work

Report  March 20, 2019

Two business people working together on a couch

Reorganizing the workspace: Transforming the way Canadians work

Report  October 10, 2018

Woman working at home with baby in her lap

Flexible work arrangements: Transforming the way Canadians work

Report  May 18, 2018

Webinars

 All resources listed below are free.

Woman looking away from work

Best practices: Return to work, disability management, and COVID-19

Webinar  April 9 @ 2 p.m. ET

Woman looking away from work

Optimizing outcomes during COVID-19: The urgent need for data sharing

Webinar  April 3 @ 2 p.m. ET

Woman speaking

Effective crisis communication: moving crisis to opportunity

Webinar  January 14, 2020

Woman speaking to a group

You’re it: Crisis, change, and how to lead when it matters most

Webinar  November 26, 2019

Man drinking coffee on his couch looking at his phone

Creating a respectful virtual workplace

Webinar  September 24, 2019

Two women talking

Increasing resilience through times of change

Webinar  May 15, 2018

COVID-19 and our events

We have been closely monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak. The well-being of our event attendees remains our primary concern.

Currently, we are exercising caution and taking advice from the relevant authorities. As a result, we will be postponing or cancelling select events. If you are already registered for an event, you will receive an e-mail with revised details.

Event Date Status New date
Quebec Regional Sounding Mar 25 Postponed Coming soon
Mental Health in the Capital 2020 Mar 31–Apr 1 Postponed Mar 30–31, 2021
Charting progress: Navigating psychological safety in the workplace (Mental health workshop) Various dates Postponed Coming soon
British Columbia Regional Sounding Apr 7 Postponed Oct 27
Value-Based Healthcare Canada: Second Summit Apr 21–23 Postponed —
Canadian Immigration Summit 2020 May 13–14 Rescheduled May 26–27, 2021
Strategic Foresight Workshop May 26–28 Postponed —
Sustainable Finance | Clean Energy May 28 Cancelled —
The Next Recession Conference Jun 17 Cancelled —
Better Workplace Conference 2020 Nov 9–10 Unchanged —
Indigenous STEM pathways: 2021 and beyond May 2021 Cancelled —

FAQs

If your event is postponed

What if the new dates don’t work for me?

Your ticket will be transferable within your company. Should no one be available to attend, we can apply a credit to your account.

Will the agenda be the same?

COVID-19 will impact every facet of Canadian society. As always, The Conference Board of Canada will convene the most relevant experts to explore the current Canadian context. We will update the agenda and topics as we confirm availability with our speakers.

Will be accommodation be affected?

We are currently negotiating a partnership for accommodation.

If your event is cancelled

When can I expect my refund?

Please allow 30 days for us to refund your fees.

How will I know when my refund has been processed?

All registrants will receive an emailed refund notification including the refunded amount.

From our partners at Conference Board Inc.

 All resources listed below are free.

Assessing Covid-19 Economic Impacts on China

Report  March 11, 2020

Responding to the Coronavirus Crisis: Selected Ideas and Learnings for Asia’s Finance Management Leaders

Report  March 4, 2020

Responding to the Coronavirus Crisis: Selected Ideas and Learnings for Asia’s CSR Leaders

Report  February 27, 2020

Responding to Coronavirus: Selected Ideas and Learnings for Supply Chain Management Leaders

Report  February 20, 2020

Responding to the Coronavirus Crisis: Selected Ideas and Learnings for Asia’s Communications Leaders

Report  February 15, 2020

Coronavirus Crisis: Assessing Economic Impacts

Report  February 15, 2020

Managing through the Coronavirus Crisis: Selected Ideas and Learnings for Asia’s HR Leaders

Report  February 13, 2020

Additional resources

As an evidence-based organization, we know how important reliable information is. We have created a list of additional credible sources for COVID-19 updates and information.

Woman with clasped hands in front of her mouth reading from her laptop; hands holding a smartphone

The spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has created uncertainty in all global markets. We’re doing our best to provide timely updates, but information can fall out of date quickly. The Conference Board of Canada reserves the right to adjust content as necessary. Any errors or omissions in fact or interpretation are the responsibility of The Conference Board of Canada.