Cultural sectors contribute $21.9 billion to Ontario’s economy

Wednesday, June 10, 2015 - 4:00am

New data released by Statistics Canada show that culture, arts and heritage contribute 3.7 per cent to Ontario’s gross domestic product (GDP), totalling $21.9 billion, and three per cent to Canada’s economy, or an estimated $47.7 billion.

The figures come from the second Culture Satellite Account (CSA) report based on 2010 provincial and territorial economic figures, which are the latest statistics available.

The total number of Canadian jobs in cultural domains (i.e. the arts, cultural industries and heritage) is calculated to be 707,012 in 2010, of which 571,985 were directly related to the production of cultural commodities. In Ontario, that number is 301,090 jobs in total, and 245,726 connected with cultural production.

Statistics Canada leads the development of the report, while the Department of Canadian Heritage manages a consortium of funding partners, including OCAD University, several non-government organizations as well as the provinces and territories.

As Ontario’s only art, design and digital media university, OCAD University’s students, faculty and alumni contribute to the vigour of Ontario’s creative industries.

To read the full report visit the Statistics Canada website.