What is a company that is owned by the Canadian government called?

A company owned by the Canadian government is referred to as a Crown corporation. Crown corporations operate at both the federal and provincial levels and are established to fulfill certain public policy objectives or to provide services that may not be efficiently delivered by the private sector. They are distinct from other types of corporations because their ownership lies with the government, which allows them to undertake projects and provide services that align with public interest rather than purely profit-driven motives.

Crown corporations have the ability to operate with some level of independence from direct government control, but they are accountable to the government and ultimately to the public. This structure is designed to ensure that these corporations can pursue objectives that serve the public good, such as infrastructure, transportation, and natural resources, which might not be prioritized by private companies focused on profit maximization.

In contrast, public corporations are typically companies traded on stock exchanges and owned by shareholders, while private corporations exist independently of stock exchange listings and are owned by fewer individuals or entities. A joint-stock company, while also a form of business organization, refers to a corporation that is owned by shareholders who contribute capital and share in profits, but it does not inherently imply government ownership. This distinction reinforces why Crown corporation is the accurate term for a company under the ownership