Since 2003, the Co-operative Development Initiative (CDI), a partnership between the federal government and the co-operative sector, has helped 1,500 co-op projects and created over 200 new co-ops.

On May 21, 2009, the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of National Revenue and Minister of State (Agriculture), announced a new and enhanced CDI program that would invest $19.1 million in co-op development over the next four years.