Canada’s GATS Contact Point

The sole purpose of this page is to facilitate the access of services suppliers, particularly developing country services suppliers, to information on the Canadian services market. It does not form part of Canada's trade in services obligations or commitments under any international agreement to which it is a party, nor does it have any legal value or status with respect to the interpretation of such obligations or commitments.

Canada's on-line General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) contact point is an initiative aimed at providing information on the Canadian services market that will help developing country service suppliers sell their services in Canada. A key objective of the GATS, and one that is strongly shared by Canada, is to increase the participation of developing countries in world services trade. Article IV of the GATS agreement calls on developed country WTO members to establish contact points to facilitate the access of developing country Members’ service suppliers to information related to their respective markets concerning:

  • commercial and technical aspects of the supply of services;
  • registration, recognition and obtaining of professional qualifications, and;
  • the availability of services technology.

Canada's online GATS contact point provides an avenue through which developing country service suppliers can obtain this information quickly and accurately.

Information for Developing Country Service Suppliers

The following resources provide developing country service suppliers with information on the Canadian services market.

All Modes of Service Supply

  • Information by country and territory - Government of Canada Gateway providing information on:
    • Canada's travel advice and advisories
    • basic country information
    • name of Canada's representative at the relevant Canadian government office abroad
    • location of relevant trade offices
    • information for Canadians abroad requiring assistance
    • information about Canada's international development assistance in that country
  • Canada Business Network - Information for small business on a wide range of government services, programs and regulations.

Mode 3 Commercial Presence

  • Invest in Canada - Resources for exploring and planning foreign investment and new business in Canada.

Mode 4 Temporary Entry

Background on Canada’s Services Regulatory Regime

  • Regulatory Affairs and Orders in Council Secretariat - The Privy Council Office Regulatory Affairs and Orders in Council Secretariat website serves as a convenient on-line resource on Canada’s regulatory regime.
  • Smart Regulation - Background on Canada’s regulatory renewal initiatives.
  • Department of Justice Canada - Search or browse Federal acts and regulations. Provides links to Provincial and Territorial Statutes.
  • Canada Gazette - The Canada Gazette contains all formal public notices and official appointments; proposed regulations; regulations; and public acts of Parliament from government departments and agencies. Miscellaneous public notices from private sector organizations, that are required by statute to publish the notices and disseminate the information to the public, are also published in the Canada Gazette.

Registration, Recognition of, and Obtaining Professional Qualifications

  • Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials - The Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC) collects, organizes, and distributes information, and acts as a national clearing house and referral service to support the recognition and portability of Canadian and international educational and occupational qualifications.

Information on Canada’s Services Sectors

Contact Point

If you have questions or comments, please contact Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada at:

Trade in Services Division (TMS)
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
Lester B. Pearson Building
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0G2
Fax: 613-944-0058
E-mail: tms@international.gc.ca