With that goal in mind, Industry Canada has been researching the services offered by business associations in a variety of industries. The objective is to aid the development of a national association for the commercial education and training industry. We have collected information about the associations that serve a variety of different sectors. After gathering basic facts, we arranged an interview with a member of each association's executive. There are many services that are common to most associations, such as newsletters, conferences and government lobbying.
Many associations produce journals with reports on hot topics in the industry.
Several associations offer innovative services such as electronic mail and electronic data interchange to improve communication between their members across the country. In some cases the association produces industry statistics. This can be particularly important for businesses in the service industry because such information is not always readily available. Associations also provide professional development opportunities, especially where specialized knowledge is rare. By virtue of their size, large industry associations may offer financial benefits to members, such as discount rates on credit card services, courier services, car leasing and rentals, gasoline and hotel accommodation.