The Co-operative Development Initiative (CDI) is the Government of Canada's new program to help people develop co-ops, and to research and test innovative ways of using the co-operative model. CDI will make the co-op option more readily available to Canadians, to respond to their present-day challenges.

Co-operatives are jointly owned enterprises formed by people coming together to meet their needs. They are based on ethical values and principles including self-help, democracy, equality, and concern for community. The 10,000 co-operatives in Canada engage 70,000 volunteers and employ 150,000 people. They empower individuals, and encourage healthier and stronger communities by enabling people to pool their resources, share risks and achieve common goals. Co-ops provide such vital services as affordable housing, child care and financial services, and contribute to local economic development and job creation.

CDI has two main components:

1. Advisory Services, to provide expert assistance to groups who want to start new co-ops, or who need help to manage existing ones. This component is managed jointly by the Canadian Co-operative Association and the Conseil Canadien de la Coopération.
   
   
2. Innovation and Research projects, to study and demonstrate how co-ops can be used successfully in new ways. This component is managed by the federal Co-operatives Secretariat.