About Us

From the first industrial boom in Canada, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) has been advocating for and representing member interests.  More than 150 years strong, we have earned an extensive and effective track record of working for and with 2,500 leading manufacturers from coast to coast to help their businesses grow.

Our success comes from integrating the association with industry, being run by manufacturers for manufacturers. Led by a national board of directors made up of senior leaders from a diverse group of Canadian manufacturers of all sizes, we have our finger on the pulse of the sector. With member-driven programs and services, we partner with you to strengthen your competitive advantage by building your knowledge and capacity in key areas, like LEAN and productivity; trade and export; energy and environment; leadership development; safety and more.

As your advocate, CME has the ear of all levels of government in Canada and in key markets around the world. We actively work to influence and recommend policies that will allow manufacturers to compete at home and abroad.

Our Values

CME subscribes to these core values that drive all the association’s actions:

  • Innovation is the cornerstone of success. CME believes that the status quo isn’t good enough and that an association should be as innovative as its members. CME places great value on the investment in technology as the key to creating competitiveness and prosperity.
  • Growth of the manufacturing sector is critical to our economy. CME proposes policies and best practices that enable growth, investment and competitiveness.
  • CME’s currency is integrity and trust. As a non-partisan, learning organization CME is guided by data and represents only members’ interests in fulfilling our mission.
  • CME is driven to influence, not just advocate: CME’s opinion is sought after. The association is able to influence policy and regulations on behalf of members, and has a role and responsibility to engage in the political process and shape the public agenda to fulfill our mission.

CME’s Mission

To enable our members to compete successfully in Canada and internationally, and to ensure manufacturing is recognized by the public and by policy-makers as an innovative and important part of Canada’s economy.

 

INNOVATION

Supporting members through an extensive suite of programs and services created specifically to address manufacturers’ top concerns, such as labor shortage, improving productivity and improving access to capital.

 

CONNECTION

Facilitating opportunities for manufacturers to learn from each other, work with each other, and grow together through peer councils, events, and other B2B networking opportunities.

 

REPRESENTATION

Influencing decision-makers at the federal and provincial levels as the strong voice of industry, whether on behalf of one company or the entire sector, to create a competitive environment for manufacturers.

CME’s Vision for Canada

Manufacturing and Exporting are recognized as engines for growth in the economy, and Canada acknowledged as both a global leader and innovator in advanced manufacturing, and a global leader in exporting.

Our history

CME — known as the Alliance of Manufacturers & Exporters Canada until October 2000 — was formed through the 1996 merger of the Canadian Manufacturers Association (CMA) and the Canadian Exporters Association (CEA). Our history dates back 150 years.

 

1871 Ontario Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) founded

 

1877 OMA name changed to Canadian Manufacturers’ Association (CMA)

 

1878 CMA founded the Canadian National Exhibition

 

1890 CMA founded the forerunner to Canadian Trade Commissioner Service and the forerunner of Canadian Transport Commission

 

1899 Canadian Trade Index (CTI) published for first time

 

1902 CMA given the Dominion Charter (Act of Parliament) to carry on business. CME maintains this Charter and is the only association in Canada with the powers that it grants, including the ability to hold official hearings (May 15, 1902)

 

1905 CMA chartered ocean liner Victorian to carry 278 members to England to promote Canadian goods

 

1919 CMA Maritime, Quebec, Ontario, Prairie and Pacific divisions established

 

1923 CMA-equipped “Canadian Train” travels across France showcasing Canadian products

 

1931 CMA exhibited Canadian products on board Canadian-Australian Good Will oceanliner

 

1939 CMA led mission to England to plan for outbreak of WWII hostilities and participated in New York World’s Fair

 

1943 Canadian Exporters’ Association (CEA) founded

 

1954 CMA Newfoundland branch established

 

1962 CMA Prairie Division split into Manitoba/Saskatchewan and Alberta Divisions

 

1984 CEA joined with Canadian Government to present the first-ever Canadian Export Awards

 

1987 Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba and Saskatchewan established as separate divisions within CMA

 

1989 CMA unveiled a seminal paper, The Aggressive Economy, outlining the need for Canada to become globally competitive

 

1996 CMA and CEA merge to form Alliance of Manufacturers & Exporters Canada, and is later joined by the Association of Provincial Research Organizations (APRO), becoming Canada’s largest industry association

 

1997 Alliance Magazine launched

 

2000 Alliance becomes Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME)

 

2005 CME holds largest cross-country consultation in history on future of manufacturing and releases Manufacturing 20/20

 

2006 Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) rebrands its flagship publication to 20/20, Canada’s industry association magazine

 

2011 CME celebrates 140 years strong

 

2018 CME rebrands

About our industry

As Canada’s second-largest industry, manufacturing accounts for 9 per cent of real GDP and total employment

In 2024:

  • The sector contributed $207 billion in real GDP and exported $467 billion in goods
  • 1 in 4 jobs are tied to manufacturing: the industry directly employed 1.85 million Canadians and supported another 3.43 million jobs
  • Manufacturing represents 60 per cent of merchandise exports
  • Including supply chain activity and employee spending, the sector’s total value-added output reaches $566 billion – 25 per cent of GDP

Our members

Our national board of directors represent manufacturers of all sizes and subsectors, from coast to coast. Reflective of the thousands of manufacturers we serve across Canada, we believe in the power of the network to advance your business and our industry.