Minister Joly highlights international investment in Montréal
News release
June 10, 2019 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada
Provincial and municipal economic development organizations play a key role in attracting international investment, strengthening Canada’s economy and creating good-quality, middle-class jobs. Supporting these organizations helps position Canada as a top destination for businesses to invest, innovate and grow.
Today, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie, is in Montréal, Quebec, to announce the $100-million investment in CanExport funding programs. CanExport helps Canadian communities attract, retain and expand foreign investments, while also supporting local entrepreneurs looking to develop and access new export opportunities.
While in Montréal, Minister Joly met with representatives of Montréal International, an investment promotion agency and driving force for economic development for the Greater Montréal area, where she announced more than $357,000 in new funding for Montreal International. The organization has received more than $1.1 million in CanExport - Community Investments funding since 2016 to attract job-creating companies and strengthen Montréal’s position as a global hub for artificial intelligence.
Minister Joly also visited the offices of Unity Technologies, the world’s most widely used real-time 3D development platform. In the Fall 2018, Unity opened its new office in Montreal, which will bring an estimated 450 new jobs to Montreal throughout the next few years.
The CanExport expansion is a key component of New Markets, New Customers, New Jobs: Canada’s Trade Diversification Strategy, an investment of $1.1 billion over six years to help Canadian businesses and communities succeed. This effort capitalizes on Canada’s new trade agreements with more than fifty countries, which provide Canadian businesses with preferential access to 1.5 billion customers. With these investments, the government continues to make Canada the most well-connected trading economy worldwide, while creating more jobs at home.
Quotes
“Canada is a great place to invest and do business. The investments we are making to support our communities’ collaborative efforts to attract international investment will further strengthen our economy, spur innovation, improve productivity and create good, well-paying jobs for the middle class.”
- Mélanie Joly, Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie
“For a third consecutive year, Montréal International achieved record results in 2018, supporting more than 60 foreign direct investment projects totalling nearly $2.5 billion. Support from the Government of Canada, particularly through its CanExport program, enables us to continually improve the position of our metropolis and promote its high-tech sectors to the world’s most innovative and creative companies.”
- Hubert Bolduc, Chief Executive Officer, Montréal International
“It’s an honor to be recognized by Minister Joly for Unity’s positive impact on the Canadian economy. It’s important to me that Unity has a thriving office in Montréal because it’s home to a dynamic community comprised of top tech talent, gaming studios and indie creators. One of Unity’s most important differentiators is our community, and we look forward to growing and fostering that in Montréal.”
- André Gauthier, Montréal Studio Head/Development Director, Unity Technologies
Quick facts
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The 2018 Fall Economic Statement announced investments of $100 million over six years to reinforce the CanExport program and related funding programs so that more Canadian businesses can explore new international markets.
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Since 2016, the CanExport - Community Investments program has funded 148 organizations across Canada with more than $16 million in support of international investment attraction, retention and expansion.
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The CanExport - Community Investments program has provided $3.8 million in funding to Quebec communities since 2016.
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Canada is a world leader in artificial intelligence. Fostering Canada’s advantage in digital technologies is one of the pillars of the government’s economic growth strategy.
Associated links
Contacts
Isabella Brisson-Urdaneta
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Trade Diversification
343-203-7332
Isabella.Brisson-Urdaneta@international.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
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