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:
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
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Priority Economic Sectors
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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
Publications
- Alberta Provincial Profile (PDF, 143.25 KB)
- British Columbia Provincial Profile (PDF, 149.74 KB)
- Manitoba Provincial Profile (PDF, 133.11 KB)
- Saskatchewans Provincial Profile (PDF, 133.75 KB)
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