Location Canada
Location Canada provides an introduction to direct investment into Canada for the global-minded company with practical advice and guidance about facilities deployment, labor force skills, taxes and incentives, and more. Canada’s Olympic Games to Deliver Sustainability
Alternative Energy in Canada: Clean Air, Good Jobs
Patenting in the Great White North: Canadian Patent Law for U.S. Businesses
Doing Business in Canada: A Guide for U.S. and International Investors
Games Drive Bell’s Telecom Advances
Bell is Canada’s largest communications company, providing consumers with telephone services and other cutting-edge communications products/services. Media relations spokesperson Allison Johnson says Bell has made a $200 million commitment to Vancouver 2010 in its role as a “premier national partner” and the exclusive “telecommunications partner” to the 2010 Winter Games. That includes a $90 million financial contribution, plus $60 million for technology, $25 million for marketing, $15 million for athlete funding, and $10 million for support of community investment initiatives.
“The [Games] are enabling Bell to drive technological innovation farther and faster,” notes Johnson. To achieve this, Bell built a 285km fiberoptic network in Vancouver and Whistler (the main venues) for use before, during, and after the Games. It will provide all voice, data, and broadcast services for “fans, media, athletes and officials from around the world,” explains Johnson, “and will be the backbone that enables all Olympic and Paralympic connectivity.”
Specifically, the network will support 400,000 private radio calls, 10,416 hours of dedicated TV broadcast coverage to an audience of more than three billion viewers, millions of data transfers, and much more. Bell also will be delivering the first all-IP (Internet Protocol) Olympic Games consisting of approximately 15,000 VoIP connections, says Johnson, “with instant recognition of users’ requirements, no matter which venues they happen to be at” — a feat alleviating the need for technicians and wires.
“Every image people see, every news story filed to the world, and every real-time score transmitted will be delivered over our technology,” Johnson points out.
Another example: Bell has begun its design and build of the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Center expansion project, future home of the International Broadcast Centre for 2010. The company will inject new technology into the venue “with every beam and every wall constructed,” notes Johnson. “The end result will be delivery of the most technologically advanced convention center in the world.”
“Hydrogen Highway” Fueling Innovations
Since Canada is a large-volume producer and industrial user of hydrogen, it’s no surprise that it’s also one of the world’s strongest advocates for the development of clean hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.
The NRC Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation (NRC-IFCI) in Vancouver, British Columbia (BC) is Canada’s premier applied research organization. It exists to support the nation’s fuel cell and hydrogen industry in diverse ways, including becoming a catalyst for industry and community partners to unite. The institute has developed close relationships with most of the British Columbian fuel cell firms supporting early R&D and pre-commercialization of fuel cell products.
British Columbia’s “Hydrogen Highway” is a melding of two ideas: First, it’s a metaphor describing Canada’s pathway to the more widespread, daily use of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, part of Canada’s goal of a sustainable future. More concretely, it refers to real industry-government partnerships that demonstrate these technologies and help to accelerate their commercialization.
The “Highway” can be visualized as linking seven “node” locations, which together form the growing provincial hydrogen cluster. It begins at its most southern point at Victoria; travels northeast through Surrey, the Vancouver Airport, and North Vancouver; and ends finally at Whistler, the site of the 2010 Winter Olympics. NRC-IFCI plans on helping each node by providing technical support and facilities for accelerated production of hydrogen and fuel cell products.
John Tak is president/CEO of the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association based in Vancouver (www.chfca.ca) — the result of the January 2009 merger of the Canadian Hydrogen Association and Hydrogen & Fuel Cells Canada. Most of the organization’s nearly 100 members are small- to medium-sized companies.
“They’re very innovative in the development of fuel cell products and systems and ways to make, purify, distribute, or store hydrogen,” Tak says. The new association encourages commercialization and adoption of hydrogen and fuel cells in Canada, most notably via BC’s Hydrogen Highway, Toronto’s Hydrogen Village, and the Vancouver Fuel Cell Vehicle Program.
At the Winter Games hydrogen technology will be front and center in transportation. BC Transit has purchased 20 hybrid fuel cell buses to operate in Whistler to replace diesel fuel buses, says Tak. (BC Transit is the provincial crown agency charged with coordinating delivery of public transportation throughout British Columbia outside metro Vancouver.)
“Operating in regular transit use before, during, and after the Olympics, the hydrogen fuel cell bus fleet will be the largest in the world,” Tak says. All the buses will come back to a central depot taking advantage of the largest-capacity hydrogen refueling station. Tak emphasizes that this hydrogen fuel cell bus fleet “is not a science project,” as they incorporate sixth-generation Canadian fuel cell bus technology, and “more than a million kilometers” of test data have already been accumulated in previous generations.
Instead of emitting toxic carbon dioxide, the bus tailpipes will produce “zero greenhouse gas emissions” — namely, just water vapor and heat. The first bus was delivered in late 2008, and the balance of the buses will be in operation by late 2009.
Today the major car manufacturers are working on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. However, Tak says governments need to develop policies that facilitate the implementation of the necessary “hydrogen refueling infrastructure” to support this new transportation mode. “Internal combustible engines have been around for 100 years; we’re just at the beginning of what we can do with fuel cell technology,” he notes.
The good news is that some fuel cell applications are enjoying early commercial sales today. For example, distribution companies are starting to use industrial fuel cells to power electric forklift trucks in their warehouses, Tak notes. And telecommunications companies are buying fuel cell back-up power systems because they are “dependable, competitively priced,” and “run for days, not hours.”
Vancouver will be in the industry spotlight this spring when it hosts the biennial Hydrogen and Fuel Cells 2009 Conference and Trade Fair from May 31 to June 3 (www.hfc2009.com). In 2007, the conference drew 1,000 delegates from 20-some nations.
Sustainability Platform Supports Winter Olympics
Not unlike other parts of the country, Western Canada is blessed with plenty of jaw-dropping natural beauty and resources. Therefore, it’s natural for its people ”to hold (or carry) a strong environmental ethos,” says Ann Duffy, corporate sustainability officer for the VANOC (the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games).
VANOC wants to stage great Games and, at the same time, drive innovations like designing spectacular Games venues and services that also reduce energy consumption and emissions. “By making sustainability a commitment right from the beginning, we can work together with all kinds of partners to make better choices in large and small ways,” Duffy says. “Ultimately, these choices are designed to support hosting great Games and leaving legacies that make a positive contribution to the communities we touch.”
VANOC’s Sustainability Management and Reporting System actively engages its work force, contractors, and suppliers to manage implementation of its sustainability activities. Many of the activities are environmentally focused. For example, the sports venues (new or refurbished) will be energy-efficient, “smart design” structures incorporating Canadian green building guidelines at a minimum silver level certification on the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Scale (LEED®). Waste heat will warm athlete housing and sporting venues. Stormwater captured from rooftops will be used in low-flush toilets.
Over at Whistler Olympic/Paralympic Park, Duffy says the original footprint of the cross-country facility was shrunk by 30 percent after rethinking its orientation. At the Whistler Sliding Centre, energy-saving initiatives include tree retention throughout the site, track shading, a weather protection system, and painting the track white to minimize heat absorption. And at the Richmond Olympic Oval, the roof is composed of salvaged pine beetle wood, making it the largest surface ever covered by the once-discarded wood.
VANOC’s many social and economic legacies are bound to be long-lasting, valued assets, too. Just look at the RONA Vancouver 2010 Fabrication Shop, which includes a carpentry-training program designed to prepare inner-city residents, Aboriginal peoples, and others for entry-level construction jobs at Games sites. Then there’s the sustainable buying program, requiring vendors to use “ethical sourcing policies” (e.g., no use of sweatshop labor, endangered materials, or environmentally unfriendly manufacturing).
The 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion, an 8,000-square-foot structure to be built using the latest technology, will showcase the diversity of Aboriginal art, music, and culture in Canada. It also will be a place where people can develop skills in fields as varied as technical communications, retail, media relations, event planning, and culinary art.
“We’re the first Winter Olympic Games to deliver the Games on a sustainability platform,” confirms Duffy. Apparently, they won’t be the last. Each month, VANOC’s sustainability team “shares notes” by phone with the organizers of London’s 2012 Summer Olympics, she says.
Thanks to VANOC, a snowball effect is under way destined to impact the environmental, social, and economic performance of future Olympics for the betterment of generations to come. (Visit www.vancouver2010.com/sustainability).
STUDIES/RESEARCH/PAPERS
What North America Must Do To Drive A More Sustainable Energy Economy 4/20/2010 
Competitive Alternatives: KPMG's Guide to International Business Location 2010 Edition 4/1/2010
Wind Energy Outlook for North America 10/05/2009
OCO INSIGHT: A New Investment Paradigm 7/21/2009
Global Investment Promotion Benchmarking 2009 5/14/2009
The United States and Canada: Toward a Better Border 5/01/2009
Foreign Direct Investment, Productivity, and Country Growth: An Overview
4/30/2009
American Wind Energy Association Annual Wind Industry Report (2008)
4/29/2009
2009 Global Shared Services Survey
3/26/2009
Future-Proof Plans 3/20/2009
Manitoba
CentrePort Canada is North America’s new 20,000-acre inland port that has been designated Canada’s first foreign-trade zone (FTZ). Located in Manitoba next to Winnipeg’s James Armstrong Richardson International Airport, CentrePort Canada offers greenfield investment opportunities for a wide variety of business operations including distribution, warehousing, and manufacturing.
Alberto Velasco
2000 Wellington Avenue
Suite 128
Winnipeg, MB R3H 1C2
204-784-1300
Fax: 204-784-1308
Manitoba
Manitoba has an exceptional business climate; extremely competitive business costs; a highly skilled, knowledge-based, multilingual work force; a business-friendly government; robust, modern infrastructure; and an unsurpassed quality of life. Strategically located in the heart of North America, Manitoba is a competitive location for doing business, with flexible and cost-effective intermodal transportation services providing worldwide shipping by rail, air, road, and sea. A Manitoba business location can give your company the competitive advantage it needs.
Donald Callis, Marketing Manager
Industry Economic Development & Mines
10th Floor - 259 Portage Ave
Winnipeg, MB R3B 2A9
866-570-7577
Fax: 204-945-3977
New Brunswick
Be in a place where business costs are slashed by as much as 30 percent and you save as much as 40 percent on payroll and mandated benefits. Where a faithful work force averages over eight years with the same employer. Where telecommunications is world-renowned and energy is fail-safe. Business is booming, the economy is growing, and our affordable lifestyle lets you live the dream. Be more profitable. Be in New Brunswick.
Lori Armstrong
P.O. Box 6000
670 King Street, 5th floor
Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1
506-444-4897
Fax: 506-444-4277
Newfoundland & Labrador
It’s happening here. Newfoundland and Labrador is bursting with big ideas, ongoing innovation, and an undeniable spirit. Our natural environment and culture have made our people more creative, resourceful, and inventive. Here you’ll find a place of uncommon potential and vast opportunity. Visit our website to learn more about investing in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Chris Hewlin
6th Floor, East Block
Confederation Building
P.O. Box 8700
St. John's, NL Canada A1B 4J6
709-729-3092
Fax: 709-729-3306
Ontario
You want resources: everything from available land and a rich labor pool to cutting-edge infrastructure and government incentives. You want connectivity. Accessing markets worldwide is essential to staying competitive. You want it all, and why not? Where can you get everything you need to grow your business? Here. Brampton.
Don Eastwood, Director, Economic Development
33 Queen Street, West
1st Floor
Brampton, ONT L6Y 1L9
905-874-2650
Fax: 905-874-3849
Ontario
Chatham-Kent is a community of 108,000 located in the heart of southwestern Ontario just minutes from the Windsor/Detroit border at the crossroads of road, rail, and air transportation. Its rich agricultural sector is now being enhanced by opportunities for renewable energy products, including cellulosic ethanol. Added to this are strong education resources and an exceptional quality of life.
Kathy Weiss
Civic Centre
315 King Street West
P.O. Box 640
Chatham, Ontario N7M 5K8
519-354-7431
Fax: 519-351-7852
Ontario
Gravenhurst – Cottage County logistics hub!
• Close to Toronto, North Bay and Ottawa;
• Local airport, two runways can handle 737, DC 9 or Airbus 319;
• Four lane inter-provincial highway;
• Immediate rail access to all point in North America;
• Sorry, no water transportation – our water is for recreation.
Peter Rigby
190 Harvie Street
Gravenhurst P1P 1S9
705-687-3412
Fax: 705-687- 7016
Ontario
Manitouwadge is located north of Lake Superior, in the center of Ontario, with access to a variety of transportation options, exceptional cellular and high-speed Internet connectivity, and a quality of life that is second to none. Combine our great location with affordable real estate, outstanding infrastructure, first-class healthcare facilities, excellent educational institutions, and you have the perfect place to call your home.
Dave Raymond
1 Mississauga Drive
Manitouwadge, Ontario POT 2CO
807-826-3227 ext. 234
Fax: 807-826-4592
Ontario
Markham, in the heart of the Greater Toronto area, is one of the fastest-growing Ontario municipalities with over 300,000 people. More than 400 corporate offices and 800 high-technology and life science companies are located in Markham. High-quality facilities, a highly educated and diverse work force, and a pro-business environment are attributes that attract world-renowned corporations to Markham (including BM Canada, AMD, American Express, and Motorola).
Suzanne McCrimmon
101 Town Centre Boulevard
Markham, Ontario L3R 9W3
905-475-4871
Fax: 905-475-4888
Ontario
Mississauga is Canada’s sixth-largest city, with a diverse, knowledge-based economy, including leading clusters in information communication and technologies, life sciences, financial services, and advanced manufacturing. The city is home to Canada’s largest international airport and within a day’s drive of North America’s richest markets. With more than 59,000 businesses, Mississauga offers companies a cost-competitive base in the heart of a major road, rail, and international air network.
Susan Amring
300 City Centre Drive
Mississauga, ONT L5B 3C1
905-896-5016
Fax: 905-896-5931
Ontario
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is the provincial government’s lead on developing Ontario’s food processing industry. Ministry staff focus on international companies that are interested in understanding how an Ontario location can maximize their success. Their goal is to make a move to Ontario as simple as possible.
George Borovilos
1 Stone Road West
Guelph, ON N1G 4Y2
800-819-8701
Fax: 519-826-4333
Ontario
Ontario combines the best educated work force in the G7, ideal access to market, international and domestic suppliers, state-of-the-art telecommunications and infrastructure, and an excellent quality of life.
Maureen Hall, Account Representative
Marketing Branch
900 Bay Street
5th Floor, Hurst Block
Toronto, ONT M7A 2E1
416-325-6689
Fax: 416-325-6375
Ontario
The County of Simcoe has a diverse economic base, strong secondary institutions, and benefits from our proximity to Canada’s major domestic and international markets. Visit us to see how County of Simcoe has everything you need for your business and life to grow and prosper. Visit our website “for the Greater Opportunity.”
Robert Lamb
Admin. Center
1110 Hwy. 26
Midhurst, ONT L0L 1X0
866-893-9300 ext. 1045
Fax: 705-726-3911
Ontario
Woodstock, Ontario, is centrally located in the heart of southern Ontario. Situated at the crossroads of super-highways 401 and 403, we enjoy the best ground transportation system in the province. With our relaxed and affordable lifestyle, you will see why in Woodstock, the balance is in your favor!
Bradley Hammond
P.O. Box 40
500 Dundas Street
Woodstock, ONT, N4S 7W5
519-539-2382 ext. 2115
Fax: 519-539-3275
Québec
Greater Montréal is one of the world’s three aerospace capitals, along with Seattle and Toulouse. It is among the rare places in the world where all the main components of an aircraft are manufactured within a 20-mile (30-kilometer) radius. Nearly two-thirds of Canadian production is centered here. Montréal’s aerospace industry boasts prime contractors and equipment manufacturers, among the world’s top subcontractors and suppliers, as well as a qualified and competitive labor force and unique training centers. Join them and take advantage of North America’s best aerospace environments!
Stephanie Lepage, Marketing Manager
1100 Rene-Levesque West
Suite 2100
Montreal, Québec H3B 4X8
514-394-7290
Fax: 514-394-7155
Saskatchewan
Enterprise Saskatchewan is a bold and innovative approach to creating sustainable economic growth in Saskatchewan. It is a special agency for coordinating the province’s growth agenda, led by key economic development and community stakeholders with one ultimate goal: to ensure Saskatchewan has a competitive environment that will attract investment at every level.
Ms. Jacki Litke, Communications Officer
4th Floor
2103 Eleventh Avenue
Regina, SK S4P 3V7
306-787-2234
Fax: 306-787-8447
Saskatchewan
Situated an hour northwest of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, the city of North Battleford is a modern urban center with tremendous growth potential for business. Affordable real estate and well-developed commercial and industrial districts position North Battleford to become one of the most important communities on the Prairies.
Denis Lavertu, Director, Business Development
1291 - 101st Street
PO Box 460
North Battleford, SK S9A 2Y6
306-445-1718
Fax: 306-445-0411
