“Canada has what the world wants,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in April in announcing the first-ever Canada Investment Summit that was scheduled to take place in mid-September 2026, in Toronto. “We’re an energy superpower, with the most educated workforce in the world and rock-solid fiscal strength.”
The business case for Canada continues to be rock solid despite the difficulties the country has encountered from certain elected officials and policies in its neighbor to the south. Some evidence:
CBRE’s 13th annual Scoring Tech Talent report, released in August, found Toronto at No. 3, Vancouver at No. 8 and Montreal at No. 11 in overall index score based on a weighted analysis of 13 metrics such as tech talent concentration, tech talent pipeline and R&D investment. Tracked by number of AI jobs, Toronto was No. 5 in North America. Moreover, while there’s an across-the-board talent premium with tech industry wages 15% higher than the U.S. average, two of the three least expensive markets examined were in Canada: Edmonton ($70,185) and Quebec City ($71,977), the latter region also leading in least expensive office space among the markets examined.
In the 12 months leading up to the Investment Summit announcement, Canada secured more than 20 new economic and defense partnerships and C$97 billion in foreign investment commitment. Among other facts the Canadian government shared in advance of its event:
“Over five years, the government’s capital investments and incentives in support of third parties, totaling about C$280 billion, are expected to enable more than $1 trillion in total investment from public, private, and institutional partners.”
With 16 free trade agreements across 51 countries as a backdrop, “Canada consistently ranks among the top destinations for FDI confidence, with a AAA credit rating, the lowest net debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7, and the number one ranking among G7 countries for banking stability.” (Hence the preference of Canada by NATO allies as the location of a new Defense, Security and Resilience Bank.)
Photos: Getty Images
“We have the world’s most educated workforce, a leading artificial intelligence sector that is adding jobs faster than the United States, and a C$140 billion quantum opportunity.”
“We have the best tax treatment for new business in the G7, and our Productivity Super-Deduction will further reduce the marginal effective tax rate (METR) by more than two percentage points.”
“Since September 2025, 15 projects and six transformative strategies have been referred to the Major Projects Office across nuclear, LNG, critical minerals — such as nickel, graphite, and tungsten — and transportation infrastructure. Together, these projects represent over C$126 billion in investments in our economy.”
“Transformative” describes what corporate facility investments large and small can do for communities from the tiniest township to the massive market that is the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Tallying those projects’ impact is what the Canadian Competitiveness Rankings of provinces and the Canada’s Best Locations group of economic development organizations set out to do.
Jurisdictions are evaluated based on data resident in Site Selection’s Conway Projects Database for corporate facility projects involving construction that also involved at least $1 million invested, at least 20 new affiliated jobs created or at least 20,000 new sq. ft. of space. Job creation is considered too, and then both job creation and private-sector facility investment data also are evaluated on a per-capita basis.
The date range examined for projects entered into the database at any stage of their development was from June 1, 2025, to May 31, 2026.
2026 Canadian Competitiveness Award
1. Invest Ontario / Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
Khawar Nasim, CEO, Invest Ontario
Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
www.investontario.ca
Recent Projects: Vianode, $3.2 billion, St. Thomas; Chapman’s, $200 million, Markdale; Sanofi, $294 million, Toronto; Northern Transformer, $152 million, 151 jobs, Barrie; Cyclic Materials, $35 million, 45 jobs, Kingston
“Over the past year, Ontario has demonstrated it’s a top investment destination across a diversity of sectors, including advanced manufacturing, food and beverage, and life sciences sectors,” says Matthew Gordon, director, Sector Strategies Branch, for the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. All told, Site Selection’s Conway Projects Database qualified $4.1 billion worth of projects creating more than 5,900 jobs. Gordon points out that the synthetic graphite from the Vianode project in St. Thomas “is essential for EV batteries, nuclear reactors, semiconductors, defense applications and other strategic industries and this investment will play a significant role across many manufacturing supply chains.” Meanwhile, the Sanofi investment in Toronto “will be used to expand its Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence to reinforce Ontario’s position as a global leader in life sciences and artificial intelligence” and to “accelerate development and delivery of innovative medicines and vaccines to patients in Ontario and in other global markets.”
2. Invest Alberta / Alberta Ministry of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration
Keith Bradley, Acting CEO, Invest Alberta
Joseph Schow, Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration
Recent Projects: Dow Chemical, $2 billion, 2,500 jobs, Fort Saskatchewan; Industries Polykar, Edmonton; KCL Cattle Co., Lethbridge; GDE Grocery Delivery E-Services Canada (Hello Fresh), 400 jobs, Calgary
A July agreement saw Alberta’s government, the Government of Canada and Canada’s five largest oilsands producers sign an MOU which provides a framework that will enable the Oil Sands Alliance to substantially increase its oil production necessary to filling the new West Coast oil pipeline, while also building Pathways, the world’s largest Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Project. “The West Coast oil pipeline and Pathways Project are two critical steps towards making Canada an energy superpower and ensuring Alberta remains a destination of choice for investment, innovation and responsible energy development,” said Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. As big projects continue to land in the province, big infrastructure needs continue to surface too. So it was welcome news to prospective employers as well as when the governments of Canada and Alberta signed an agreement in July allowing Alberta municipalities to access more than C$510 million in federal funding over eight years through the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF) for housing-enabling water and wastewater infrastructure projects.
3. Saskatchewan Ministry of Trade and Export Development/ Saskatchewan Trade & Invest
Warren Kaeding, Minister of Trade and Export Development
investsk.ca
Recent Projects: Meadow Lake Mechanical Pulp, $294 million, Prince Albert; El Dorado Gold Corp., 200 jobs, Creighton; Costco, Lloydminster; Federated Cooperatives, $150 million, Regina
Private capital investment in Saskatchewan increased last year by 12% to C$13.6 billion, ranking first among all provinces. And merchandise exports over the first half of 2026 rose by 11.6% over the first half of 2025, the second-highest rise in the nation. “This strong growth is a testament to the hard work of Saskatchewan producers, manufacturers and exporters,” Trade and Export Development Minister Warren Kaeding said in August. “Their success in international markets helps attract investment, create jobs and showcase our province as the reliable supplier the world depends on.” The Ministry only takes credit for 1,700 jobs created from projects, but it’s the capital investment of C$11.7 billion that makes the Saskatchewan case as a top performer. Bryan Dilling, director of investment priorities for the Ministry, highlights in his response to Site Selection’s survey ongoing large investments in mining and in oil and gas, “with significant manufacturing and processing developments, particularly in the value-added agriculture space. Aerospace and defense is emerging as a strength for the province, as well.”
*All dollar amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted. The exchange rate at press time was US$1 = C$1.382.
Canada’s Best Locations
Between the start of construction on the Gordie Howe International Bridge in October 2018 and its opening in July 2026, more than 15,800 individuals worked over 20.1 million hours to complete it.
Photo courtesy of Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority
ONTARIO
Invest Brampton (Peel Region)
Brampton, Ontario
Denise McClure, Director of Economic
Development & International Relations
investbrampton.ca
Recent Projects: Mobile Climate Control, $88.2 million, 700 jobs; Coca-Cola Canada Bottling, $141 million; Powersmiths International, 200 jobs
Brampton saw C$318 million in investment affiliated with 1,265 new jobs. The city’s ICI Economic Development Program is designed to strengthen relationships within the Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional (ICI) sector, while showcasing key economic development priorities, investment opportunities, and strategic sites. Brampton’s Tariff Action Plan received national recognition from Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC), winning a Marketing Canada Award in the Recovery Plan category. Toronto Metropolitan University opened its School of Medicine in Brampton in September 2025. The Government of Canada announced FedDev Ontario investment for two City of Brampton initiatives: C$2.5 million under the Regional Tariff Response Initiative to launch Brampton’s Business Growth Accelerator and C$2.7 million under the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative to partner with BHive Innovation & Training Hub to deliver the BNext AI Program.
Advantage Brantford
Brantford, Ontario
Joe Muto, Director of Economic Development, Tourism & Cultural Initiatives
www.advantagebrantford.ca
Recent Projects: Hilton Foods Canada, 200 jobs; Massilly North America, $62.4 million, 50 jobs; Ya Ya Foods, 300 jobs; Brimich Logistics, $12 million, 20 jobs
Visit the newsroom of Advantage Brantford and the first thing you notice is their team spends time visiting companies, including a recent visit to the city’s first major Japanese industrial investor, Kuriyama Canada, which has continued to grow in Ontario 42 years after first landing in Brantford. A plethora of food companies continues to grow in the city, where the target sectors are advanced manufacturing; film, television, and digital media; food and beverage manufacturing; plastic and rubber products and warehousing and distribution. A C$445 million Ferrero expansion and Hilton Foods’ C$192 million first North American facility were part of more than C$772 million in committed industrial investment and 2,000-plus jobs added to the local economy in 2025, according to the city’s 2025 annual report released in July 2026. Future projects include a new 5,300-seat sports and entertainment center; an integrated housing hub; a new hospital; and a three-year foreign direct investment strategy to attract further international business to Brantford.
Invest in Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Ray Kessler, Acting Director, Economic Development | Chief Corporate Real Estate Officer
investinhamilton.ca
Recent Projects: Airwise, 150 jobs; Atomvie Global Radiopharma, $101 million, 70 jobs; Opta Waterdown, $25 million; Bousfields, 22 jobs; Skygauge Robotics, 26 jobs
This region of more than 640,000 saw its Small Business Centre establish a new food incubator. The city also has welcomed TD Coliseum, which Invest in Hamilton’s survey response called “one of the major transformative developments in the city. The re-development of Hamilton’s downtown arena (FirstOntario Centre) represents a significant site revitalization effort that is repositioning an existing asset for economic impact. For the city, this project brings new life to a key site by attracting events, increasing foot traffic and supporting surrounding businesses. It also signals renewed confidence in Hamilton’s downtown as a hub for entertainment and investment,” supported by a complementary “Meet Your Downtown” campaign and an approved downtown revitalization strategy establishing a vision for the next 10 years. Meanwhile, the organization is pursuing a new clean technology manufacturing strategy.
London Economic Development Corporation
London, Ontario
Kapil Lakhotia, President & CEO
ledc.ca
Recent Projects: Skyreach Group, $20 million, 100 jobs; Givens Engineering, $11.5 million, 25 jobs; Empack Spraytech, 150 jobs; Huffman Innovation, 50 jobs
CBRE’s Scoring Tech Talent report in August tabbed London as the fifth-best emerging tech market in North America, with more than 19,000 people working in the metro’s tech sector, which has grown by just over 16% over the past three years. One way LEDC uses tech is to provide a suite of web resources connecting businesses to tariff support programs and assistance to help companies and workers affected by U.S. tariffs. Some of the tech talent in the region comes by way of Western University, a major presence in the city with nearly 43,000 students, 5,445 of whom hail from 134 countries. Founded in 1878, Western is ranked among the top 1% of higher education institutions worldwide and a founding member of the U15, Canada’s group of most distinguished research universities. LEDC continues to focus on the target sectors of agri-food, manufacturing, digital media + tech, health & life sciences, and defense & aerospace. In addition to talent attraction campaigns that included a “Don’t Tell Toronto” campaign to attract talent to London’s growing health and tech sectors, LEDC also supports the film & entertainment industry. “In 2025, Film London supported six feature films shot entirely in London (a new record),” LEDC says. “These features generated over C$1.1 million in revenue toward the local economy.”
Invest Mississauga
Mississauga, Ontario
Christina Kakaflikas, Director of Economic Development
www.investmississauga.ca
Recent Projects: First Choice Beverage, $583 million, 275 jobs; Citigroup, $13 million, 600 jobs; Eisai Co., $127 million, 136 jobs; Apex Logistics, $74 million, 122 jobs
This perennial top performer welcomed nearly 4,000 new jobs and some C$1.7 billion in corporate facility investment this time around. Economic Development Director Christina Kakaflikas notes a number of events and accomplishments involving IDEA Mississauga and IDEA Square One Entrepreneurship Hub. Among other things, alumni of IDEA Mississauga, Invest Mississauga’s entrepreneurship arm, in 2024-2025 raised over C$8 million, generated C$4 million in annual revenue and created 270 jobs in Mississauga, and a delegation of Japanese tech firms visited IDEA Square One. Invest Mississauga’s activities have included securing leads during a Global Affairs Canada trip to Zurich and London; hosting the finale of the 2025 Startup Canada Tour; and welcoming the city’s film, TV and music production department under its umbrella at the same time the city has made its live music grant program permanent. Looking forward, the city has launched a new economic development strategy through 2030, debuted a new retail strategy and endorsed a 20-year strategy to guide investments in the city’s transit and road network.
Invest Oakville
Oakville, Ontario
Rebekah Diec Stormes, Director of Economic Development
invest.oakville.ca
Recent Projects: AFX Mixing & Pumping Technologies, $9 million, 24 jobs; Siemens Canada, $23 million; Concast Pipe, $10 million; Laurentis Energy Partners, 50 jobs; Pinty’s Delicious Foods, $10 million
This booming community in Halton Region saw more than C$3 billion invested and 1,926 jobs created during the examined time period, including Ford’s multi-billion-dollar retooling of its Oakville Assembly Complex. An additional eight companies investing around C$9 million arrived in Oakville but their names have been kept confidential. In an annual benchmarking exercise against 17 surrounding Greater Toronto Area (GTA) municipalities in the areas of non-residential development charges (DCs) and property taxes, Oakville last year ranked second for office development charges and within the top five for commercial property taxes, making it a competitive market for new office investment. In October 2025, Oakville launched a formal business retention and expansion (BR+E) program called Branches to Business. In March 2026, Oakville Town Council endorsed the proposed establishment of a new Global Economic, Cultural, and Tourism Engagement Committee, designed to help Oakville build stronger international connections and take advantage of emerging global opportunities. In the third year of Oakville’s Film Pilot Program, the team coordinated 108 filming days across 26 productions. Invest Oakville also continued to support the Ontario Auto Mayors Caucus.
Located at the eastern gateway to Calgary’s Mission district, Vesta Properties’ Broadway on 17th transforms a long-underutilized site into a dense, walkable urban destination, says Zeidler Architecture.
Photo-rendering courtesy of Zeidler and v2com newswire
Oshawa Economic Development
Oshawa, Ontario
Hailey Wright, Director of Business and Economic Development Services
oshawaecdev.ca
Recent Projects: Lactalis Canada, Martin Brower, Ontario Power Generation, GM Canada, Amazon.com, Inc., GEODIS
A standout municipality in Durham Region, Oshawa has recorded more than C$1 billion in industrial, commercial and institutional development over the past five years. Among other projects, Ontario Power Generation’s new corporate headquarters will bring more than 2,000 employees to the city. “Oshawa is also translating local assets into national opportunity,” said Oshawa Economic Development’s survey response. “Its National Defence Innovation Corridor connects advanced manufacturing, multimodal logistics, cybersecurity, applied artificial intelligence, skilled talent and world-class research and testing. At Ontario Tech University, the ACE Climatic Wind Tunnel supports Project Arrow, Canada’s all-Canadian zero-emission vehicle initiative, and is expanding as a defense technology hub. The City-led DRIVE initiative has also been designated an Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network Regional Technology Development Site, creating new pathways for mobility companies to test, commercialize and scale.” Recent infrastructure improvements include investments in the Port of Oshawa, Oshawa Executive Airport and expanded GO rail service. And the community of Clarington continues to be a valuable component in the region as home to OPG’s Darlington site where a new small modular nuclear reactor is due to be located.
Greater Sudbury Economic Development
Sudbury, Ontario
Meredith Armstrong, Director – Economic Development
investsudbury.ca
Recent Projects: Sandvik, $85 million, 60 jobs; Ontario Mine Rescue, $125 million; Landmark Home Inspections, 77 jobs
Among other activities, Greater Sudbury Economic Development entered into an interregional partnership with Kingston Economic Development to form the Kingston–Greater Sudbury Critical Minerals Alliance to strengthen Ontario’s critical minerals and advanced materials value chain. That theme also emerged in May 2026 as the area hosted the 5th annual BEV In‑Depth Conference at Cambrian College, bringing together more than 250 leaders across mining, automotive, defense, mineral processing, battery technology, clean energy, academia and government. “As demand grows for secure and sustainable critical minerals supply chains, the work happening here in Greater Sudbury is helping power Canada’s economic sovereignty and support our allies around the world,” said Greater Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre. In 2025 Greater Sudbury saw C$597 million in total construction permit value issued across the residential, commercial, industrial and institutional sectors. “Development activity included permits for 625 new housing units, as well as 71 permits issued for large projects each valued at more than C$1 million,” Greater Sudbury Economic Development reported.
Toronto Global
Toronto, Ontario
Stephen Lund, CEO
www.investwindsoressex.com
Recent Projects: HIVE Digital Technologies, $3.5 billion; Cohere Inc., $725 million; Sanofi, $294 million, 50 jobs; Marvell Technology Group, $238 million, 350 jobs; Hitachi Rail, $30 million; Mentis Care
The CBRE Scoring Tech Talent report issued in August shows Toronto is the fifth largest market in all of North America when it comes to AI employment, at 33,419 jobs, fewer than 100 jobs away from the total in Washington, D.C. While Toronto Global benefits from the efforts of many of the other GTA communities honored in this list, its own work unites and propels the region forward through such programs and initiatives as advocating for the location of the Defense, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB) in the region, after NATO allies declared their preference for Canada in spring 2026. Designed to support defense, security and dual-use industries across 40 allied countries, the DSRB “is expected to help address financing challenges facing small and medium-sized firms, advanced manufacturers, cybersecurity companies, and technology scale-ups,” Toronto Global explains. The organization also led a recent mission to meet with companies, advisors and ecosystem partners across seven European cities in five countries. In response to strong life sciences demand, the organization led the charge for the creation of a Wet Lab Coalition made up of key industry stakeholders from across the region to drive home the importance of building wet labs to the overall growth of the industry.
Vaughan Economic Development
Vaughan, Ontario
Raphael Costa, Director of Economic Development
vaughanbusiness.ca
Recent Projects: Toro Glasswall, $135 million; Walmart Canada, $77 million, 200 jobs; Burnco Manufacturing, $8 million, 75 jobs; Syncreon, 100 jobs; Lineage, 75 jobs
This shining star of the York Region, home to a population of 367,000, attracted nearly C$706 million in corporate facility investment creating almost 1,000 new jobs. Raphael Costa says that new programs are reducing barriers and enabling efficiency to help investors build and grow. “The Investment Concierge program is a white-glove service for major investment projects, helping them move through the permitting and development process faster and smoother, with a dedicated staff team assigned to every project,” he writes. “The city is also investing in businesses through our recent Community and Economic Development Fund — a C$43 million investment from the city in the form of development charge deferrals and forgivable loans available for office, convention centers, grocery, food services, creative industries, R&D, co-working.” The city also just reduced development charges for businesses by 50%. “We’re a top choice because of our big market access with a logistics-first location, rare space to scale in a major Canadian metro, proximity to Toronto via direct TTC transit connections, and national leadership in industrial development. Vaughan has regularly been ranked third nationally in the value of industrial building permits, and among the top five in the number of those permits.”
Invest WindsorEssex
Windsor, Ontario
Gordon Orr, CEO
www.investwindsoressex.com
Recent Projects: Dimachem, $8.5 million; Stratus Plastics International, $8.3 million; Reko International Group, $4.7 million
“For local residents, the Gordie Howe International Bridge brings the potential for new jobs, investment and community development, while creating new ways to connect with our neighbors,” said Invest WindsorEssex CEO Gordon Orr at the bridge’s opening in July. “We have long recognized this project as a generational investment in trade, economic competitiveness and the future prosperity of our region,” said Windsor Essex Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Ryan Donally. Four years ago, NextStar Energy committed to building a C$5 billion battery cell plant in Windsor. In February, the company announced the production of its 1-millionth battery cell at the facility after launching commercial cell production in November 2025. June 2026 saw the launch of the Downtown Windsor Innovation District by a coalition including WEtech Alliance, Rocket Innovation Studio, the University of Windsor, St. Clair College, Invest WindsorEssex and the City of Windsor. An even larger coalition was behind the June announcement that Windsor-Essex will continue to serve as one of nine Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) Regional Technology Development Sites (RTDS), “further positioning the region as a key driver of Ontario’s automotive, technology, battery and smart mobility future,” said Invest WindsorEssex.
ALBERTA
Calgary Economic Development
Calgary, Alberta
Brad Parry, President & CEO
www.calgaryeconomicdevelopment.com
Recent Projects: CAE, $145 million; HCL Technologies, 250 jobs; Sultech Global Innovation Corp./Canlin Energy Corporation, $5 million; Factor Meals (Hello Fresh), 400 jobs
Greater Calgary continues to attract significant corporate attention, beginning with the tech sector. CBRE’s Scoring Tech Talent report finds that Calgary was the fastest-growing tech talent market for the third consecutive year, adding nearly 29,000 tech workers since 2022 and growing by 56% between 2022 and 2025, the highest growth rate among the 50 North American markets ranked. “Leading North America in tech talent growth for a third straight year shows this isn’t a one-time surge — Calgary has built real momentum across our tech workforce,” said Calgary Economic Development President and CEO Brad Parry in August. The region now has more than 1,300 core technology companies and more than 40 tech accelerators and incubators. Meanwhile, the region’s industrial development success continues, with significant contributions from area communities such as Balzac and Rocky View County. And the City of Calgary continues to demonstrate the benefits of its Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF), which since its creation in 2018 has supported 3,999 jobs created or retained; 1,040 companies created or scaled; and 5,470 training and work-integrated placements completed.
Edmonton Global /
Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association
Edmonton, Alberta
Daryn Edgar, CEO, Edmonton Global
edmontonglobal.ca
Mark Plamondon,
Executive Director, Alberta’s
Industrial Heartland Association
Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta
industrialheartland.com
Recent Projects: Ruminant Biotech, $5.5 million; Champion Petfoods, $23.5 million; A.R. Thomson Group, $14 million; Pembina Pipeline, $419 million; K. M. S. Tools & Equipment, $5.2 million
In February, based on the region’s position as a “strategically located northern innovation and logistics powerhouse,” the University of Alberta, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), Edmonton Global, Alberta’s Industrial Heartland and Edmonton International Airport (YEG) launched the Edmonton Region Defence Alliance (ERDA) in order to reinforce the region’s role as “the backbone of the Western Canadian economy to advance the region as a defense, security and dual-use technology hub.” Mark Plamondon notes that the communities of City of Edmonton, City of Fort Saskatchewan, Strathcona County, Sturgeon County and Lamont County served by Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association attracted C$4 billion in project investment over the time period, creating 3,250 new jobs. Just after our designated time period came the July 2026 announcement of a $13 billion data center campus by Meta in Sturgeon County. The project will mean 3,000 construction jobs and 300 operational jobs once complete, when it will become the 33rd data center in what Meta calls its “global fleet.”
MANITOBA
Winnipeg Economic Development & Tourism
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Ryan Kuffner, President & CEO
www.economicdevelopmentwinnipeg.com
Recent Projects: StandardAero, $15 million, 250 jobs; International Truck Body, $12 million, 100 jobs; Fluey Trading, $9 million, 120 jobs
Winnipeg Economic Development & Tourism helped attract C$36 million in investment creating 470 new jobs. “2025 marked an important milestone as we became Winnipeg Economic Development & Tourism, a name that reflects our integrated one-agency model and unified approach to growing Winnipeg’s economy,” says Amanda Macdonald, the organization’s COO. “By connecting how people live, work, invest and visit, we are better positioned to tell a stronger story, move faster and create greater impact for our city.” Some evidence: In 2025 the organization secured 96 future events and conferences expected to generate more than C$68.9 million in direct spending, including the Grey Cup Festival (estimated C$90 million economic impact). “The Grey Cup Festival was also strategically leveraged to host VIP clients as part of Winnipeg’s successful bid for the 2027 JUNO Awards, expected to generate an additional C$17 million in economic impact,” says Macdonald of Canada’s annual music industry awards.
NEW BRUNSWICK
City of Moncton / Moncton Impact
Luc Babineau, Director, Economic Development
monctonimpact.ca/
Recent Projects: Systemair, $5 million, 122 jobs; Organigram Holdings, $9.3 million; BioScript Pharmacy; Greystone Energy Systems; Walmart Canada
For the fourth year in a row, the Moncton census metropolitan area ranked among Canada’s fastest-growing CMAs in 2025, recording the second-highest population growth rate in the country (2.9%), behind Edmonton and tied with Calgary. The city proper grew by 3.7% to surpass 102,000, with another 94,000 residents spread across the region, including Dieppe. “From 2020 to 2024, the Moncton CMA labor force grew by 18%, increasing from 87,500 to 103,100 workers — likely the fastest labor-force growth in Southeast New Brunswick’s modern history,” says the Moncton Impact organization. Home to three universities, two community colleges and four private colleges, Greater Moncton is forecast to see its real GDP hit more than C$9.8 billion in 2026 and climb to C$10.2 billion in 2028. “Downtown continues to attract strong investment,” said Luc Babineau, director of economic development for the city, after a Q2 report showed 422 building permits issued valued at C$135.2 million, bringing the year-to-date total to over C$206 million. “In just the first six months of 2026, downtown permit values reached $74 million, already surpassing the 10-year annual average of C$52 million. This momentum reflects continued confidence in Moncton as a place to invest and grow.”
Meta in July pledged to invest $13 billion in a new data center campus in Sturgeon County, Alberta, part of the Edmonton metro area.
Rendering courtesy of Meta
NOVA SCOTIA
Halifax Partnership
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Wendy Luther, President & CEO
halifaxpartnership.com
Recent Projects: Siemens Healthineers, $175 million, 60 jobs; DXC Technology, $86.5 million, 125 jobs; North Atlantic Potash, $14.3 million, 59 jobs (Dartmouth); Vyterra Renewables/Ensyn Renewable Fuels Canada, $182.3 million, 30 jobs
In the 2026 edition of the Halifax Index, Halifax Partnership Economist Ian Munro notes that Halifax’s real GDP grew by 2.3% in 2025, and the 1.2% increase in real GDP per capita topped the 10 benchmark cities used in the Index. The population continued to rise, but not at the pace that generated serious growing pains from 2022 to 2024.” Meanwhile, the area’s Business Confidence Index rose in 2026 after three consecutive years of decline. Among other projects, the 15 foreign direct investment projects in Halifax in 2025 are expected to create an estimated 1,235 jobs and generate C$398.7 million in capital expenditures. Among the usual strong performance by services and tech companies in Halifax proper, it should be noted that Dartmouth, part of the Greater Halifax region, is contributing its fair share to area prosperity.
“In 2025, the federal government announced $29.4 million to establish Canada’s first Maritime Defence Innovation Secure Hub (DISH) in Dartmouth, supporting next-generation defense technologies,” notes Invest Nova Scotia. “Ultra Maritime also completed more than C$20 million in upgrades to its Dartmouth facility in 2025, expanding capacity to design, manufacture and support advanced undersea warfare systems for Canadian and allied naval programs.”
QUEBEC
Montreal International
Montreal, Québec
Stéphane Paquet, President & CEO
www.montrealinternational.com
Recent Projects: Awendio Solaris, $726.7 million, 1,000 jobs; Cohere Inc., $725 million; Wizards of The Coast (Hasbro), 200 jobs; Bombardier, $100 million, 330 jobs; GE Vernova, $4.4 million
If Canada is “the most European of non-European countries,” as Prime Minister Mark Carney said last year, then Montreal must be the most European of all non-European metro regions. The Montreal region moved up four spots to No. 11 in this year’s CBRE Scoring Tech Talent report. Since 2013, MI has contributed to attracting direct foreign investment projects valued at C$24 billion, leading to the creation or maintenance of 86,000 jobs. “We have also played a key role in the decisions of nearly half of the city’s 70 international organizations to establish themselves here, as well as in attracting and retaining more than 13,000 strategic international workers,” the organization notes, the latest being the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI), which located to the city in July 2026. Financial services is one of several strong sectors for this thriving metropolis. “Montreal is the cheapest North American financial hub (50% cheaper than New York, Boston and Chicago) and has a large sustainable talent pool as well as government incentives,” writes Noza Mutalova, senior director of international business development for Finance Montreal. Meanwhile, Montreal’s role as an originator of thinking about artificial intelligence continues to reap benefits, with Germany’s G+D and France’s Mistral AI recently establishing AI centers in the city.
Québec International
Québec City, Québec
Carl Viel, President & CEO
www.quebecinternational.ca
Recent Projects: Biotechnologies Aramis, $80 million; Toromont Industries, $40 million; QScale, $514 million; Groupe Nutri, $10 million
Québec City saw more than C$3.3 billion in corporate facility investment over the examined time period. Carl Viel notes that, in addition to private investments, a number of public-sector projects are creating jobs, including construction of the new Île d’Orléans Bridge (C$2.8 billion), the new CHU de Québec-Université Laval hospital complex (C$2.7 billion), Port of Québec infrastructure modernization (C$1.7 billion) and redevelopment of the northern approaches to the Pierre-Laporte Bridges in Québec City (C$477.4 million). In calendar year 2025, the metro area saw more than 1,300 companies benefit from Québec International’s actions, contributing to the creation or retention of 1,352 jobs, Viel says. Moreover, “as part of its internationalization strategy, Québec International leveraged its International Gateways initiative, in collaboration with LE CAMP, its technology incubator and accelerator, to accelerate the global expansion of high-potential startups.”
SASKATCHEWAN
Saskatoon Region Economic
Development Authority
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Erin Lawson, CEO
sreda.com/
Recent Projects: Agrifac (Netherlands); Great Western Brewing Co., $18.4 million; Ergo Foods (Argentina); JNE Welding; Sandvik, $51 million; Northern Nutrients, $50 million
Over the time period examined, the Saskatoon region, with a population barely over 364,000, welcomed C$157.4 million in corporate facility investment creating 123 new jobs, says Adam Schick, economic intelligence specialist with SREDA. Among other services, the agency is offering SREDA Gateway, a business concierge service to help navigate development processes in Saskatoon. “We act as a single point of contact between municipal departments and project stakeholders to streamline permit applications, site selection and zoning requirements,” Schick says. “By aligning partners early, Gateway removes the friction between your plan and its completion.” SREDA’s 2025 Impact Report noted that the region represents roughly 30% of the province’s population and accounted for 32% of Saskatchewan’s total GDP in 2025 with a contribution of nearly C$26 billion. The area also accounts for 26.4% of location choices by companies locating in Saskatchewan.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Invest Vancouver
Vancouver, British Columbia
Jacquie Griffiths, President
investvancouver.ca
Recent Projects: Aspect Biosystems, $280 million, 283 jobs; G3 Canada, $600 million; Mangrove Water Technologies (Delta), $25.7 million; Moment Energy, $100 million, 100 jobs; DP World Ltd., $103 million;
Most regions list four or five key target industries. Invest Vancouver lists 11. That gives you a good idea of the breadth of an economy well known for its cleantech, life sciences and digital media & entertainment sectors but which also has strengths in quantum, apparel and aerospace. The region also benefits from a breadth of success, including a strong year for the town of Delta and steady project input from Surrey, Burnaby and Richmond. From a program perspective, C$552,500 in funding through the Government of Canada’s Future Skills Program will boost expansion of Invest Vancouver’s Invest Talent Cybersecurity Workforce Hub, an employer-led regional talent accelerator. Future Skills funds also supported the 2025 launch of a Regional Talent Accelerator, which will focus on workforce development. A March 2026 survey of 47 executives at multinational foreign companies found the average foreign company has more than tripled their workforce in the Metro Vancouver region since landing. “More than half of these firms entered the market with 30 or fewer employees and grew by an impressive 233%,” said Invest Vancouver in a release.
