Canada Market
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.
Cost Advantages
- Western Canada produces 32% of Canada’s GDP
- Real economic growth in the 4 Western provinces exceeds the Canadian average
- In 2004, over 90% of western small business owners were optimistic about their profit outlook and chances for success, and more than 83% said their company was profitable
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
Other Key Advantages
- 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
- Abbotsford (BC)
- Calgary (AB)
- Chilliwack (BC)
- Edmonton (AB)
- Kelowna (BC)
- Regina (SK)
- Saskatoon (SK)
- Vancouver (BC)
- Victoria (BC)
- Winnipeg (MB)
Priority Economic Sectors
- Aerospace
- Agriculture & Agri-food
- Biotechnology & Life Sciences
- Building Products
- Electronics & Microelectronics
- Environmental Technologies
- Financial Services
- Fish products
- Food and Beverage
- Forestry (Wood & Paper Products)
- Information & Communications Technologies
- Machinery & Equipment Manufacturing
- Media Industries
- Medical Devices
- Mining
- Nanotechnology
- Oil & Natural Gas
- Petrochemicals
- Tourism