Competitive Advantages

When a country has as much to offer as Canada , it’s impossible to pinpoint a single reason to invest in one of the most dynamic economies in the world. Canada boasts multiple advantages and unparalleled potential — a place where businesses can achieve excellence on a global scale.

• People Advantage: Canada is a nation of intelligent, educated workers, ranking #1 in the OECD in higher education achievement.
• Business Environment Advantage: The Economic Intelligence Unit has rated Canada the #1 place to do business in the G7 for the next five years.
• Economic Advantage: Canada is better placed than many countries to weather the global financial turbulence and worldwide recession.
• Tax Advantage: Canada offers businesses low tax rates, boasting the lowest payroll taxes among the G7 countries.
• NAFTA Advantage: Canada ’s NAFTA advantage gives investors access to more than 443 million consumers and a combined GDP of more than US$15.4 trillion.
• The Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative (APGCI): Take advantage of Canada’s strategic location as the crossroads between the North American marketplace and the booming economies of Asia.
• Transportation Advantage: Canada has sophisticated infrastructure and a highly developed transportation network.
• Life Style Advantage: World-class universities, a universally acclaimed health care system, clean, friendly cities and spectacular scenery make Canada a great place to invest, work, live and raise a family.

Canada excels in multiple sectors, as diverse as our vast country. As one of the world’s most competitive investment locations—with regional clusters of industrial excellence and indispensable connections to global value chains—Canada has clear advantages for the sophisticated investor seeking new opportunities. Canada has created a unique business environment that allows companies to grow on the world stage. To attract the best and brightest, Canada has focused its policies, business incentives and university support around key industries.

Canada’s Industry Strengths

• Aerospace: Canada’s global share of aerospace activity has tripled in the last 20 years, making Canada the world’s 5th largest aerospace producer.

• Ag-biotech: Canadian firms’ revenues exceed those of US agro-based companies and are more than double those of Japan and the UK.

• Agri-food: Canada is the world’s fourth-largest exporter of agricultural products.

• Automotive: Canada is among the Top 10 automotive countries and the 3rd largest exporter of automotive products after Japan and the U.S.

• Bio-Products: Cutting-edge Canadian firms are converting energy crops and other agricultural residues into bio-fibres, bio-fuels and bio-industrial oils – environmentally beneficial alternatives to conventional products that are as healthy for the pocket book as they are for the planet.

• Biotechnology: Canada is a leader in biotechnology—one of the top five countries in the world.

• Business Services: Canada’s business services sector is a critical node in today's multinational, multi-value chain model, generating over $57 billion in 2007 and employing 1.1 million

• Chemicals: Nine of the top 10 chemical companies in the world have production facilities in Canada .

• Digital Media - Games: Canadian companies are global leaders across the entire gaming value chain – from tools development to casual games and serious games, to both mobile games and gameware development.

• Financial Services: Canada's banks are ranked #1 globally by the World Economic Forum.

• Life Sciences: Canada’s life sciences innovators are at the very forefront of discovery.
• Bio-Pharma: Canada leads the G8 in growth of health research patents, and ranks fourth internationally.
• Contract Services: Canada has the highest rate of increase in the G7 in life sciences R&D workers, external patent applications and business expenditures on R&D, and the lowest life sciences labour costs.
• Medical Devices: Canada is a global leader in digital radiography, in vitro diagnostics, cardiovascular devices, dental implants and materials, and home health-care products.

• Pharmaceuticals: Canada is the fourth fastest growing market in the world for pharmaceuticals .

• Plastics: Canada is the world’s fourth largest exporter of moulds and eighth largest exporter of plastics processing machinery.

• Renewable Energy: With 430 companies, a rapidly growing workforce, and quality wind resources, Canada's Wind energy sector is the fastest growing renewable energy source in Canada

• Software: Canada encourages growth through rich R&D tax credits and the lowest operating costs in the G7.

• Wireless: A high-talent, low-cost labour force, R&D advantages, smart regulations and centres of research excellence makes Canada a rewarding location for enterprising investors.

Establish A Business

Are you a non-Canadian thinking of setting up a business in Canada? Or are you a business owner interested in global expansion? This section will provide you with an overview of the opportunities in Canada and the related legal and tax requirements.

Explore Our Regions

Whatever your business interests, you’ll find all this and more in one of Canada’s diverse regions, which offer a wealth of investment opportunities in every sector in every corner of the country.

 Take a look at what Canada’s regions have to offer

• Atlantic Canada
• Northern Canada 
• Ontario
• Québec
• Western Canada

Looking for?

• a highly-educated, well-trained, reliable workforce
• strong established industries working alongside the next generation of innovators
• clusters of excellence in key 21st Century sectors
• excellent communications and business infrastructure
• world-class transportation networks
• financial incentives for investors

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Ontario

Central Canada—Centre of Canadian Business With the greatest population concentration, close proximity to the massive US market and diverse industrial strengths, Ontario has quickly become the engine of the Canadian economy and a home for a broad range of multinational operations. Ontario in the 21st Century is globally recognized for its leading edge technology industries and fast growing business services, finance, tourism and cultural sectors. Six of the world's largest automotive companies have production facilities here. So do nearly all the global biotech giants and international leaders in chemicals, IT, aerospace and financial services creating a broad industrial base which has the stability to ride out global economic cycles. Ontario is committed to supporting businesses by:

• maintaining low corporate income taxes,
• offering generous incentives for business growth and success,
• supporting job skills development,
• leading in the development of clean energy technologies, and
• continuing to be among the world’s most innovative and stable markets in which to invest.

Business Environment

• In 2009, the Ontario government proposed $4.5 billion in tax cuts over three years for businesses—Once fully implemented, the comprehensive tax reform package would cut Ontario’s marginal effective tax rate on new business investment in half, making Ontario one of the most competitive jurisdictions in the industrialized world for new investment.
• Home to almost 40% of all head offices and 59% of foreign-controlled head offices in Canada
• Entrepreneurs and investors can get businesses started fast—it takes on average only one simple step to start a business, compared to as many as 20 needed in other industrialized countries
• Producer of 48% of total national manufacturing shipments and 42% of goods exports
• Telecommunications and transportation infrastructure provides seamless international links
• Canada's banking system has been recognized as the world's healthiest and soundest—Ontario is the heart of that system

Workforce

• Canada's most populous province, with over 38% of the country's population of over 33 million
• Home to 39 of Canada’s Top 100 corporate R&D spenders
• Home to people with more than 200 different ethnic backgrounds who speak over 100 languages
• Overall, 59% of Ontarians aged 25–64 have completed post-secondary education, the highest percentage in the OECD/G7
• Home to 20 universities and 24 colleges of applied arts and technology, generating a steady supply of new graduates
• Provides nearly 40% of Canada's total employment

Other Key Advantages

• Over 40% of North America’s population is within a day's drive of central Ontario
• Regulatory environment is balanced and transparent—Compliance is relatively easy and straightforward
• Multicultural society that welcomes more immigrants per year than any other province in Canada
• Ontario's population is more diverse than Canada as a whole, while Ontario's capital, Toronto, is Canada's most multicultural city
• Tolerant communities and an enviable quality of life

Sector Strengths

Look Who’s Investing in Ontario

Major Cities

• Barrie (ON)
• Chatham-Kent (ON)
• Guelph (ON)
• Haldimand County (ON)
• Hamilton (ON)
• Kingston (ON)
• London (ON)
• Oshawa (ON)
• Ottawa-Gatineau (ON)
• Peterborough (ON)
• St. Catharines-Niagara (ON)
• Sudbury (ON)
• Thunder Bay (ON)
• Toronto (ON)
• Waterloo , Kitchener and Cambridge Region (ON)
• Windsor-Essex (ON)
• York-Region (ON)

Publications

• Ontario Provincial Profile (PDF, 160.96 KB)
• Ontario Investment Newsletter
• Life Sciences in Ontario (PDF, 20 MB)
• Help Viewing Alternate Formats

Provincial Incentives

• Select Government Programs / Incentives

For More Information

• Ontario Economic Development
• Government of Ontario
• Invest in Ontario
• Geographic information system (GIS) (tool for the purposes of investment attraction

Provincial Contact

Ontario Investment and Trade Centre
250 Yonge Street
35th Floor
P.O. Box 1
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5B 2L7
Tel: 416-313-3469 Fax: 416-360-1817 Canada and North America Toll Free: 1.800.819.8701
Other Countries Toll Free: 800.46.68.27.46*********************************************************************** 

Western Canada

Booming Opportunity = Investor Profitability Canada’s four western provinces are the crossroads between the massive US market and the burgeoning economies of Asia . They are also the nexus for Canada’s traditional and new economy:

• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Manitoba
• Saskatchewan

The region’s rich endowment of natural resources—petroleum and natural gas, timber, minerals, productive farmland and tourism assets—continue to be the powerhouse of the Western Canadian economy. But the region’s advances in aerospace, agri-food and value-added agriculture, biotechnology, environmental technologies, information and communications technologies (ICTs) and medical devices are quickly matching them.With the advantages of groundbreaking R&D, regional clusters, highly-skilled people and a strong entrepreneurial spirit, the sky is the limit in big-sky country—Canada ’s vast prairie and Pacific region.

Export Markets

• Close proximity to North American and Asia-Pacific markets
• Deep sea ports with short shipping times between North America and Asia-Pacific
• Pacific Gateway projects to expand Canada ’s West Coast shipping capacity, including infrastructure, transportation technology and border security initiatives
• Efficient and extensive transportation networks—truck, air and rail services—fully integrated with US networks

Key Advantages

• Western Canada produces 32% of Canada’s GDP
• Real economic growth in the 4 Western provinces exceeds the Canadian average
• Western Canada ranks tops in lifestyle, enabling business to attract and retain talent from around the world
• 9 major airports, including 6 international airports
• Sophisticated research facilities and consortia, and science and business parks
• Broadband coverage second in the world only to Korea
• 12 public universities and dozens of colleges and technical institutes training individuals for industry
• 300+ government sponsored programs and services to provide training and skills
• Reliable access to safe and high-quality raw materials
• Stable and affordable water, sewer and electric utilities
• Host of the 2010 Olympic Games (Vancouver/Whistler)

Major Cities

Priority Economic Sectors

Services for Businesses

• Investments in the West
• Western Canada Business Network
• Partnership Programs
• Invest in Alberta
• Invest in BC
• Invest in Manitoba
• Invest in Saskatchewan

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Québec

Dynamic and Diverse A strategic location between Europe and the Americas, Québec offers an abundance and variety of natural resources, highly-skilled, multilingual workers, a vibrant cultural community and an exceptionally high quality of life. Add to these advantages Québec ’s steadfast commitment to R&D, and you have one of the country’s most innovative economies, with high technology industries and ‘green’ energy increasing prosperity in the 21st century.

Business Environment

• GDP of CDN $301 billion in 2008, 60% generated by the service sector
• GDP per person 18th in the OECD, comparable to Germany and Italy , surpassing Spain
• Tax rates on business profits among the lowest in North America
• Tax incentives and labour force assistance and training programs ($2.5 billion annually)
• Exports account for 33% of GDP , with 72% of international exports shipped to the US
• Access to NAFTA market of over 440 million consumers
• A market of 110 million consumers within a 1000 km radius
• Within a 600 mile radius of Boston , New York , Washington and Detroit
• #1 exporter of newsprint, 2nd largest magnesium producer and 4th largest aluminum producer in the world
• The St. Lawrence Seaway offers easy access to the industrial heart of North America

Workforce

• Highly-educated workforce—19 universities produce 65,000 graduates annually
• 85% of workers have post-secondary or more , 22% a university degree
• Highly bilingual and multilingual workforce—40% speak French and English; 13% speak a third language

Other Key Advantages

• Quebec ranks among the 10 most important health sciences industrial pools in North America. As a proof, the ten largest pharmaceutical companies in the world have operations in Quebec: Canadian head office, fundamental R&D or manufacturing facilities.
• Nearly half of the Canadian biopharmaceutical industry and most of the basic and clinical research activities are concentrated in Quebec
• Over 62% of overall Canadian aerospace industry production takes place in Québec
• Internationally, the Greater Montréal region is considered one of the major world centres for aeronautics, on the same level as Seattle, Wichita and Toulouse
• Montréal also has one of the highest concentrations of high-tech jobs in North America along with San Francisco, Seattle and Boston
• Clean energy producer supplying electricity to other parts of Canada and the US
• R&D spending—2.7% of GDP—is the highest in Canada and higher than the average of the OECD, the G7 and the European Union. Furthermore, Québec’s objective is to invest 3% of GDP in R&D by 2010
• Over 200 specialized university R&D centres—McGill is the Canadian university awarded the most patents by the US Patent and Trademark Office
• Private and public capital to fund investment projects
• Efficient road and rail networks and airport infrastructure
• 110 international financial centres
• Montreal Stock Exchange a Canadian hub for financial risk management and a significant partner in specialized markets in North America
• Home of the Canadian Space Agency

Sector Strengths

Look Who's Investing in Québec

Major Cities

• Montréal (QC)
• Québec City (QC)
• Saguenay (QC)
• Sherbrooke (QC)
• Trois-Rivières (QC)

Publications

• Quebec Provincial Profile (PDF, 161.64 KB)
• Investissement Québec Newsletter
• Help Viewing Alternate Formats

Provincial Incentives

• Invest Quebec
• Invest Quebec: Publications

For More Information

• Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Region of Québec
• Province of Québec
• Investissement Québec
• Invest in Québec
• Québec International
• Québec R&D

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Northern Canada

Opportunities as Massive as the Arctic Three distinct territories make up Canada’s North, each with a unique history, government institutions, economic base and future prospects:

• Northwest Territories
• Nunavut
• Yukon Territory

From the dancing northern lights of the amazing aurora borealis to traditional Aboriginal northern dancers, the top half of Canada is a place of history, mystery and excitement. Contemporary Northern Canadians continue to capitalize on the wealth of rich resources offered by the massive northern landmass and three oceans that make up the world’s longest coastline. Canada’s North offers investments opportunities as vast and varied as the landscape—ranging from diamond mines to oil and gas, adventure- and eco-tourism, fashion, commercial fishing and Arctic shipping.

Investment Advantages

• Over $100 billion in investment is planned for a range of projects in the North:
• Diamond mines in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut
• Ongoing uranium exploration in Nunavut and Labrador
• Mackenzie Gas Project in the Northwest Territories
• Alaska Highway Pipeline Project in the Yukon
• Investment in these projects alone represents a significant share of Canada's total capital investment
• Provincial and territorial initiatives are in place to stimulate further northern mineral exploration and expansion, such as Nunavut’s Mineral Exploration and Mining Strategy and mining incentive programs in the Yukon
• Development of the northern tourism industry presents exciting opportunities to market distinct tourism products ranging from adventure travel to hunting excursions, aurora viewing to Aboriginal culture experiences, as well as a myriad of outdoor tourism activities

Key Advantages

• Economic activity in the North generates billions of dollars in export earnings and government revenues, provides significant employment for northern residents, and supports a great deal of value-added activity outside the region
• Huge areas of Canada’s North lie beneath the shallow seas of the Arctic continental shelf and within the Arctic archipelago, harbouring untapped resources that hold promise for the region’s future
• Northern Canada is the site of one quarter of Canada’s remaining discovered petroleum and one half of the country's estimated potential
• Mining, forestry, and the oil and gas industry continue to be the primary economic drivers in the North, with hydroelectric, manufacturing, tourism, commercial fishing, agriculture, and traditional resource harvesting industries also making important contributions to the economy
• The North already makes a significant contribution to Canada's economy, which will continue to increase with the expansion and diversification of all sectors in the northern economy

Major Cities

• Iqaluit
• Yellowknife
• Whitehorse

Priority Economic Sectors

International Industry Leaders

Publications

• Northwest Territories Profile (PDF, 134.57 KB)
• Nunavut Profile (PDF, 145.43 KB)
• Yukon Profile (PDF, 144.20 KB)
• Help Viewing Alternate Formats

For More Information

• Invest NWT
• Yukon Economic Development
• Government of Nunavut: Economic Development

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Atlantic Canada

A Profitable Place to Do Business Located on the east coast of Canada , Atlantic Canada is comprised of four provinces:

• New Brunswick (NB)
• Newfoundland and Labrador (NL)
• Nova Scotia (NS)
• Prince Edward Island (PE)

Specialised Workforce

The region also boasts a skilled and reliable workforce—with more post-secondary graduates per capita than the US or elsewhere in Canada, and absenteeism and turnover rates that are among the lowest in North America.

• 17 world-class universities, dozens of state-of-the-art research facilities and a network of colleges and other post-secondary training institutions
• Post-secondary graduate rates, per capita, higher than the US or rest of Canada — Atlantic universities award 17,000 degrees every year, including 3,500 graduate and professional degrees
• Public spending on vocational training is 38% greater than elsewhere in Canada
• Lowest employee turnover and absentee rates in North America — employees stay with employers 100% longer than their American counterparts

Export Markets

Atlantic Canada is well situated for international trade and commerce with easy access to major markets in the U.S. and Europe .

• Within 1-day driving distance of more than 1/3 of the entire population of North America
• Closest ports to Europe in North America — 2 days faster than anywhere else on the continent

Key Advantages

• Trans-Atlantic fibre-optic cable network, directly connected to Atlantic Canada , connecting North American and European telecommunications
• Bilingual population (English & French) , a major customer contact centre location
• Exceptionally high quality of life
• Financial incentives to encourage foreign investment in all four Atlantic provinces

Major Cities

• Cape Breton Island (NS)
• Charlottetown (PE)
• Fredericton (NB)
• Halifax (NS)
• Moncton (NB)
• Saint John (NB)
• St. John’s (NL)

Priority Economic Sectors in Atlantic Canada

Aerospace and Defence Agriculture and Agri-food Aquaculture Biotechnology and Life Sciences Business and Professional Services Construction Culture e-Business

Energy (Oil and Gas) Environmental Products and Services Fisheries Information Communications Technology Nearshoring Ocean Technologies Seafood Energy (Renewable)

Regional Clusters

Atlantic Canada is fast becoming a strong leader within the technological sectors:

• Nearshoring
• Aerospace and Defence
• Biotechnology and Life Sciences
• Ocean Technologies

International Industry Leaders Call Atlantic Canada Home

Centerbeam Convergys EDS Fantech Limited Genesys Honeywell Aerospace IBM Julie Static Controls Keane McCain Michelin Tire

Uponor UPS Urban Machinery GMBH Versata Xerox RIM CGI Testori Butterfield Bank Trimark

Publications

• New Brunswick Provincial Profile (PDF, 148.09 KB)
• Newfoundland Provincial Profile (PDF, 134.67 KB)
• Nova Scotia Provincial Profile (PDF, 132.57 KB)
• Prince Edward Island Provincial Profile (PDF, 144.42 KB)
• Help Viewing Alternate Formats

For More Information

• Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
• Atlantic Canada: A Profitable Place to do Business
• Government of New Brunswick
• Government of Nova Scotia
• Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
• Government of Prince Edward Island
• Northeast Avalon - Newfoundland and Labrador