Site Selection Names Canada's Best Locations 2017

Site Selection Names Canada's Best Locations and 2016's Top US Utilities in Economic Development

Media Release
Site Selection Magazine

Atlanta, September 5, 2017: Ontario is the most competitive province in a competitive nation, followed by a resurgent Alberta and Quebec. And metro areas from Greater Toronto and Montreal to Waterloo, Saskatoon and Vancouver head Site Selection’s annual list of top Canadian economic development groups (see full list below). Those are the conclusions reached as Site Selection publishes in its new September issue its annual Canada’s Best Locations awards and rankings, based on April 2016- March 2017 corporate end-user facility investment and job creation data derived from the publication’s proprietary Conway Projects Database and the magazine’s own research. The Canadian Competitiveness Award, this year awarded to the Ontario Investment Office, goes to the leading province based on data derived from qualifying new corporate facilities and expansions. The Top Canadian Groups are local or regional economic development groups ranked based on project data, regional partnership, proactive and innovative programming, and quality data and Web tools and resources.

With NAFTA renegotiation looming, Canada's Ambassador to the US David MacNaughton tells Site Selection, "Ninety percent of the trade between us goes on without a hiccup." As for the 10 percent that he calls "irritants," he says, "we need to figure out how to sort those out and expand trade, not curtail it." The real opportunity "is to figure out how North American companies can become more globally competitive" and take on the world. One way is via the clusters of opportunity found in Canadian places large and small: life sciences in downtown Toronto, cybersecurity in Fredericton, ICT in Ottawa, AI in Winnipeg. "People are finding that there are pockets across the country where surprising things are happening," he says, thanks to the nation's richest natural resource: human talent.

Not only is Ontario leading the way, its regions and municipalities are too: Half of the 10 Top Canadian Groups (and six of the 10 Honorable Mentions) hail from the province. The Canada’s Best Locations 2017 report includes a Canadian economic development directory, and is posted at www.siteselection.com. “The annual Canada’s Best Locations feature sheds additional light on Canada’s many location options for corporate site selectors," says Mark Arend, editor in chief of Site Selection. "We salute the provinces and communities that made this year’s rankings.”

Top Utilities in Economic Development Also featured in the September issue are Site Selection's annual rankings of Top US Utilities in Economic Development (see list below), based on analysis of corporate enduser project activity in 2016 in that company’s territory (from Conway Projects Database and submitted materials from utilities); website tools and data; innovative programs and incentives for business, including energy efficiency and renewable energy programs; and the utility’s own job-creating infrastructure and facility investment trends. “This year's Top Utilities excel at enhancing corporate location decision-making with business intelligence, teamwork and service,” says Managing Editor Adam Bruns of the rankings Site Selection has published since 1999. "Utilities play a key role as participants in the economic development efforts of cities, regions and all areas working to improve their local business climate," says Editor-in-Chief Mark Arend. “This year's Top Utilities were particularly successful in this endeavor in 2016." In addition to an array of state and regional spotlights, industry reports and Investment Profiles, the new issue of Site Selection includes an exclusive report on the $10-billion Foxconn deal in Wisconsin; the magazine's annual Infrastructure Report (with exclusive analysis by Fluor); insights into rural workforce qualifications; and international reporting on territories including the UK and Malaysia.

2017 Canada's Best Locations (alphabetical order)

• Calgary Economic Development
• City of Mississauga Economic Development Office
• Montreal International
• Invest Ottawa
• Quebec International
• Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority
• Toronto Global
• Vancouver Economic Commission
• Waterloo Economic Development Corporation

WindsorEssex Economic Development

Contact: Adam Bruns, Managing Editor (770) 325-3491 adam.bruns@siteselection.com