Canada welcomes foreign direct investment (FDI) while offering entrepreneurs a first-class business climate for growth and stability, supported by low taxes and operating costs, a talented and diverse workforce, and world-leading research, innovation and transportation infrastructure that businesses need to ensure success in today's highly competitive global economy. It's no wonder that global leaders like Microsoft, Electronic Arts, Toyota, Samsung and Pfizer are finding success in Canada. In fact, the reputable Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) considers Canada as the best place to do business over the next five years.
Open for business: Canada welcomes foreign investment that investment that contributes to our economic growth, jobs, innovation, competitiveness and long-term prosperity.
- Canada is the best country for business, says Forbes Magazine in its October 2011 study of 134 countries. The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) says Canada is the best country among the G-7 to do business over the next five years.
- Canada is the easiest place to start a business in the G‑7, says the World Bank.
- In 2010, international trade accounted for over 60% of Canada's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), making it one of the world's most open trading nations.
- In 2010, Canada's stock of FDI (in and out) was equivalent to 72.5% of its GDP, the third highest proportion in the G‑7.
- Between 2001 and 2010, Canada was the world's 8th largest destination of global inbound FDI flows.
Strong economic growth: Throughout the global economic downturn, Canada proved to be a top performing economy that offers businesses opportunities to grow, innovate and succeed.
- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts that Canada and Germany will have the fastest economic growth in the G-7 in 2011 and 2012.
- Canada has posted the fastest employment growth in the G-7 since mid-2009, fully recouping all the jobs output lost during the recession.
Fiscal strength: Canada entered the global recession with a strong record of balanced budgets and low debt.
- Canada has the strongest fiscal position in the G‑7 and among the best fiscal prospects in the G‑20.
- Canada is set to attain a budget surplus by 2015‑16.
- The federal debt-to-GDP ratio stood at 34.0% in 2009‑10 and it is projected to decline to 29.7% by 2015‑16.
Financial stability: Canada's strength is underpinned by the world's most stable financial sector.
- Canada has the world's soundest banking system, says the World Economic Forum.
- At a time when financial institutions around the world were collapsing, no Canadian bank or insurer failed and none required bailouts.
- Six of the top 10 safest banks in North America are Canadian, says Global Finance Magazine.
Lower business costs and taxes: Canada offers a low cost, low tax environment.
- Canada's overall tax rate on business investment is substantially lower than all G‑7 countries.
- In 2012, Canada is expected to have a combined federal-provincial statutory general corporate income tax rate of 26%, below the level of most other G‑7 countries and more than 13 percentage points lower than that of the U.S.
- Overall business costs in Canada are the lowest in the G‑7 and 5.0% lower than the U.S., says KPMG.
- Canada is the first in the G‑20 to make itself a tariff-free zone for manufacturers by eliminating tariffs on manufacturing inputs and machinery and equipment.
- Canada allows accelerated capital cost allowance (CCA) treatment for investments in machinery and equipment.
Excellent place for research and innovation: Canada offers a winning environment for research and innovation, including world-leading R&D infrastructure, innovation incentives and scientific talent.
- Canada is first in the G‑7 in terms of relative expenditures on R&D in higher education.
- Canada offers one of the most generous R&D tax incentives in the industrialized world. Combined federal and provincial credits can save foreign investors, on average, up to 30 cents on the dollar invested in R&D in Canada.
- Canada has the G‑7's lowest costs in R&D-intense sectors, up to 12.9% lower than the U.S., says KPMG.
Competitive workforce: Canada is home to a highly educated, flexible and multicultural workforce that is well suited for today's knowledge-based economy.
- Canada has one of the world's best educated workforces with the second highest proportion of post-secondary graduates in the OECD.
- The availability of qualified engineers in Canada is the highest in the G7, says the Swiss-based Institute for Management Development.
- Canada's post-secondary schools rank among the world's best.
- Canada ranks #1 in the G‑7 and #3 in the world for the quality of its management schools, says the World Economic Forum.
- Over 200 languages are spoken in Canada, with 1 in 5 Canadians speaking a language other than English or French.
A great place to live, study or work: Canada's high quality of life provides a great backdrop for the success of individuals, families and globally-engaged companies.
- According to the OECD's Better Life Index, Canada has the highest quality of life in the G‑7 and second highest in the OECD.
- Canada ranks #2 in the G‑7 in the 2011 United Nations Human Development Index.
- Canada leads the G‑7 for the administration of justice and for offering equal opportunities to individuals, says the Swiss-based Institute for Management Development (IMD).
- Vancouver (1st), Toronto (4th) and Calgary (5th) rank among the top five cities for liveability, says the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).
Gateway to the world: Canada's status as a NAFTA member and its world-class infrastructure translate into cheap, fast and reliable access to North American and global markets.
- Canada offers businesses assured access to a lucrative North American market of nearly 450 million consumers with a combined GDP of about US$16 trillion.
- More than US$1.4 billion worth of goods crossed the Canada‑US border each day in 2010.
- 17 of Canada's 20 largest cities are located within a 90 minute drive of the Canada‑U.S. border.
- Canada has major international shipping ports on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts (Halifax, Vancouver and Prince Rupert) and along the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway (Montréal).
- Offering the shortest sailing distance between North America and Asia‑Pacific, Canada's Asia‑Pacific Gateway is a state-of-the art network of port, road and rail connections that reach across Western Canada and into the economic heartlands of North America.
