Foreign ownership of companies of Canada

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Foreign ownership of companies of Canada pertains to the majority ownership of Canadian based assets (including businesses and subsidiaries) by non Canadian individuals or companies, as well as to companies that are effectively owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by non Canadians. "Non Canadian," for all intents and purposes, refers to entities based outside Canada and to those who are not Canadian citizens or qualified permanent residents. Foreign ownership (or 'foreign affiliates') of Canadian companies has long been a controversial political issue in Canada. Concerns regarding the issue generally regard ownership of previously 'Canadian' assets by foreign entities, though the exact definition of 'foreign owned' is subject of debate. Foreign majority owned affiliates contribute significantly to the economy of Canada. In 2016, foreign affiliates accounted for 14% of Canada's gross domestic product and employed 12% of workers.

Historically, foreign ownership was a political issue in Canada in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when it was believed by some that U. S. investment had reached new heights (though its levels had actually remained stable for decades), and then in the 1980s, during debates over the Free Trade Agreement. However, the situation has changed; since in the interim period, Canada itself became a major investor and owner of foreign corporations. Since the 1980s, Canada's levels of investment and ownership in foreign companies have been larger than foreign investment and ownership in Canada. In some smaller countries, such as Montenegro, Canadian investment is sizable enough to make up a major portion of the economy. In Northern Ireland, for example, Canada is the largest foreign investor. By becoming foreign owners themselves, Canadians have become far less politically concerned about investment within Canada. Something to note is that Canada's largest companies by value, and largest employers, tend to be foreign owned in a way that is more typical of a developing nation than a G8 member. The best example is the automotive sector, one of Canada's most important industries. It is dominated by American, German, and Japanese automotive giants. Although this situation is not unique to Canada in the global context, it is unique among G8 nations, and many other relatively small nations also have national automotive companies. In 2004, foreign controlled corporations accounted for 21.9% of assets held in Canada, and 30.0% of operating revenues yet comprised less than 1% (approx. 8,000) of the total 1.3 million corporations in Canada. Assets of foreign controlled corporations rose 8.3% to $1.1 trillion in 2004, while those of Canadian controlled corporations rose 8.9% to $3.9 trillion. All in all, foreign controlled profits soared to a record $68 billion that year, up 21.7% from 2003. Also that year, foreign controlled corporations operating revenues in Canada averaged $96 million, compared with less than $2 million for their Canadian controlled counterparts. In 2006, 34 Canadian companies were purchased by foreign interests worth $62 billion, nearly 4% of Canada's market value.

CompanyForeign owner(s)Origin of foreign ownerNotes500pxVisual China GroupChinaAeryon LabsFLIR SystemsUnited StatesAltaLinkBerkshire Hathaway EnergyUnited Statesone of Canada's largest electricity transmission companiesAsia Pacific Marine Container Lines (Asia Pacific Group Canada)Leung Maritime GroupChina (Hong Kong)one of Canada's largest cargo transport companiesAviva CanadaAvivaUnited KingdomBP CanadaBPUnited KingdomCargill CanadaCargillUnited States (Minnesota)CorelKKRUnited Statesa software and programming company, taken over by Vector Capital in August 2003, and acquired by Kohlberg in 2019. Costco Wholesale CanadaCostcoUnited States (Washington)Costo's Canadian operations are the 7th largest private company in Canada as of 2006. Direct EnergyNRG EnergyUnited StatesDofascoArcelorLuxembourgCanada's largest steel maker; acquired by Arcelor in January 2006. Entertainment One (eOne)HasbroUnited StatesFord Motor Company of CanadaFord Motor CompanyUnited StatesFour Seasons Hotels & ResortsCascade Investment and
Kingdom Holding CompanyUnited States and Saudi ArabiaGeneral Electric Canada (formerly Canadian General Electric)General ElectricUnited Statesa wholly owned unit of General ElectricGeneral Motors CanadaGeneral MotorsUnited States (Michigan)Canada's largest automotive manufacturer. General Motors is its indirect parent; it is Canadian owned according to Ontario Superior Court documents. This also includes CAMI Automotive, an assembly plant wholly owned by GM Canada. Gulf CanadaConocoUnited StatesGulf Canada had formerly been part of U. S. based Gulf Oil, later becoming independent. It was then purchased by Conoco in a deal worth $6.7 billion in 2002. Honda Canada Inc. HondaJapanincluding Honda of Canada ManufacturingIBM CanadaIBMUnited StatesImperial OilExxonMobilUnited StatesImperial Tobacco CanadaBritish American TobaccoUnited KingdomKia Canada Inc. Kia MotorsSouth KoreaKobo Inc. RakutenJapanLabatt Brewing CompanyAnheuser Busch InBevBelgiumLabatt was purchased by Belgian brewer Interbrew in 1995, and was eventually absorbed into AB InBev. Lockheed Martin CanadaLockheed MartinUnited StatesLorexDahua TechnologyChinaLorex, a distributor of security systems founded in 1991, was acquired by Dahua in 2018. Mars CanadaMars, Inc. United StatesMasoniteKKRUnited StatesMcDonald's CanadaMcDonald'sUnited StatesMega BrandsMattelUnited StatesMercedes Benz CanadaMercedes BenzGermanyMitsui and CompanyMitsuiJapanMolson BreweryMolson CoorsUnited StatesMooresTailored BrandsUnited StatesCNOOC Petroleum North AmericaChina National Offshore Oil CorporationChinaNexen Inc. was one of two Canadian oil and gas companies that the Harper government controversially approved the sale of to foreign state owned enterprises in 2012; though it stated that future takeovers by SOEs would face new rules, especially in the energy sector. Nexen became a wholly owned subsidiary of CNOOC on 25 February 2013. Nissan CanadaNissan MotorsJapanParmalat CanadaParmalatItalyParlamat Canada is best known for owning the Black Diamond Cheese brand. PetroKazakhstanPetroChina (China National Petroleum Corp)ChinaPetroKazakhstan is a Calgary based company exploring in Central Asia. It was purchased by the China National Petroleum Corporation in 2005, and transferred to its subsidiary PetroChina. Pratt & Whitney CanadaUnited TechnologiesUnited StatesPetronas CanadaPetronasMalaysiaProgress Energy Resources was one of two Canadian oil and gas companies that the Harper government controversially approved the sale of to foreign state owned enterprises in 2012; though it stated that future takeovers by SOEs would face new rules, especially in the energy sector. Rio Tinto AlcanRio TintoAustralia / United KingdomCanadian manufacturer Alcan was purchased by Rio Tinto in 2007 and merged with Rio Tinto's Canadian division, becoming Rio Tinto Alcan. Shell CanadaShellEnglandSleeman BreweriesSapporo BreweriesJapanSony CanadaSony CorpJapanStaples CanadaSycamore PartnersUnited StatesStelcoBedrock IndustriesUnited StatesStelco was Canada's last major independent steel producer. It was taken over by United States Steel in August 2007, before being acquired by Bedrock in 2016. Toyota Canada Inc. ToyotaJapanincluding Toyota Motor Manufacturing CanadaToys "R" Us CanadaToys "R" UsUnited StatesUltramarValero EnergyUnited StatesUnivar CanadaUnivar SolutionsUnited StatesWal Mart CanadaWalmart Inc. United Stateswholly owned by WalmartWarner Music CanadaWarner Music GroupUnited StatesWaste Connections of CanadaWaste ConnectionsUnited Statesmajority shares are owned by Waste ConnectionsWattpadNaver CorporationSouth Korea

CompanyForeign owner(s)Origin of foreign ownerHB Studios2KUnited StatesBeenoxActivisionUnited StatesRadical Entertainment (defunct)Capcom VancouverCapcomJapanBig Blue BubbleEnad Global 7SwedenPiranha GamesBioWareElectronic ArtsUnited StatesEA Black BoxEA MontrealEA VancouverMotive StudiosLudiaJam CityUnited StatesDigital ExtremesLeyouChinaFUN TechnologiesLiberty MediaUnited StatesNext Level GamesNintendoJapanRockstar TorontoRockstar GamesUnited StatesRockstar VancouverRelic EntertainmentSega Europe (Sega)JapanEidos MontréalSquare EnixJapanSquare Enix MontrealKlei EntertainmentTencentChinaUbisoft MontrealUbisoftFranceUbisoft QuebecUbisoft SaguenayUbisoft TorontoWB Games MontréalWarner Bros. Interactive EntertainmentUnited States

"Non Canadian," for all intents and purposes, refers to entities based outside of Canada and to individuals who are not Canadian citizens or qualified permanent residents. This act is primarily administered by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, though defined "cultural businesses" are administered by the Department of Canadian Heritage. Business profits earned in Canada by such a branch will be subject to regular federal and provincial corporate Income Taxes. An additional Federal Branch Tax is also applied on profits not reinvested in Canada. A tax treaty may provide for a reduced rate or exemption threshold for the Federal Branch Tax. Bank Act — provides that no person may own and control more than 10% of the shares of a Schedule I bank. Broadcasting Act — bans broadcasting licenses from being issued to non Canadians or to companies that are effectively owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by non Canadians. Telecommunications Act — restricts foreign ownership and control to 20% of the voting shares of a telecommunications common carrier. Insurance Companies Act — provides that no person may own and control more than 10% of the shares of a Canadian owned life insurance company. (Manitoba legislation also places restrictions on foreign investment in the insurance industry.) The New Brunswick Business Corporations Act, the Nova Scotia Companies Act, the Quebec Business Corporations Act, and the British Columbia Business Corporations Act make no stipulations that resident Canadians be directors. New Brunswick provides that Extra Provincial Corporations need only have an "attorney for service" resident in that province. Unlimited liability corporations can exist in Alberta, British Columbia, or Nova Scotia. This form is particularly convenient where the parties are well established and in no danger of insolvency. Alberta requires the derisory fee of CA$100 to establish this form. In most other provinces, the legislation is significantly more restrictive.