In Commonwealth countries a Crown corporation is a state-controlled company or enterprise (a public corporation).
Crown corporations, in theory, operate on a day-to-day basis at arm's length from the political control of government. Direct control by government is exerted only over the corporation's budget and the appointment of its chairperson and directors.
In Canada, Crown corporations are operated both by provincial governments and the federal government, as a means to pursue economic and social objectives. Canadian Crown corporations are used to control everything from the distribution, use, and price of certain goods and services, to energy development, resource extraction, public transportation, cultural promotion, and property management. They are also frequently used to give governments access to financial markets to provide financing for development and capital projects.
One of the most significant Canadian Crown corporations of the 20th century in terms of its number of employees, and its far-reaching impact into the everyday lives of Canadians, was the Canadian National Railway. Other significant Crown corporations have included CBC, VIA Rail, Air Canada, and Marine Atlantic.
Examples of federal Crown corporations in Canada:
Examples of provincial Crown corporations in Canada:
Several Canadian companies used to be Crown corporations but are now privatized, examples being:
