Background

The Consider Canada City Alliance Inc. (CCCA) unites twelve of Canada’s largest Economic Development Agencies (EDAs) to promote investment around the world where upwards of 85% of all net new GDP growth is occurring in the major urban centres in Canada. The members stretch from the Atlantic coast in the East to the Pacific coast in the West and include Halifax, Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Waterloo Region, Hamilton, London, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver. The members strongly believe that metro regions/cities play an increasingly critical role in global economic flows and that downtown business districts are major contributors to Canada’s national identity and are key generators of economic wealth. Vibrant city centers are the hubs for a region’s economic, cultural and civic identity. A prosperous and sustainable downtown core that offers a high quality of life plays a significant role in attracting international investment not only as destinations to establish and grow a business but additionally as an attractive place to live and expand personal experiences. CCCA is unique in the world in its capability to have twelve regional/city level economic efforts and the national government collaborate and cooperate in presenting Canada’s value proposition to foreign investors. The recently announced partnership with Destination Canada will amplify CCCA’s ability profile Canada and its cities to international audiences. We believe that EDAs will play an important role in our economic recovery and future growth of our communities.


Issues and Anticipated Impacts

The corona virus (COVID-19) outbreak has, and will continue to have, a significant impact on the nation’s city centers. According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), “major cities are bearing the brunt of the pandemic’s human and economic costs”. The WEF also notes despite the availability of a vaccine in 2021, COVID-19 will continue to have a disruptive impact on cities. As we close in on a year of varying levels of lockdowns, social distancing and working from home, it is important to note that Canada is also facing a slowdown in the rollout of its vaccination strategy - with the vaccine not available to the broader public until at least August of this year - and the influx of new variants of the virus, it is unlikely that cities will see “business as usual” return to downtown cores earlier than Q4 of this year. All CCCA member cities are experiencing significant impacts on their downtown cores with the proportion of employees, typically working downtown, now working from home ranging from 40-90%. This is supported by ridership on public transit having dropped 40- 80%. This has resulted in an immediate impact on the hospitality and retail sectors. Some members have also seen an impact on residential real estate prices. Of grave concern was the rise in poverty, addictions and mental health challenges citing a lack of available public washrooms and safe places for vulnerable individuals. In the longer term, as commercial real estate vacancies rise, metro regions and cities anticipate a decline in property taxes and other revenue streams that will seriously compromise municipal governments’ ability to provide basic services. Companies have already signaled their intentions to change their business models allowing employees to continue to work from home and reduce their physical footprint in the business center. Further changes to the workplace, in terms of reducing density in the workplace, are also anticipated. While most members were not in a position to provide precise data on business closures as result of COVID-19 lockdowns, studies suggest a 10-20% decline in sectors such as retail and restaurants. This percentage is expected to rise as the country continues to negotiate its way through the pandemic. As an example, the Ottawa Coalition of Business Improvement Areas forecasts that up to 30% of local establishments could close as result of COVID lockdowns.

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Current Risk Mitigation Activities

Almost all members have participated in the ShopHERE and Digital MainStreet programs helping local business to move their business online. Additionally, member municipalities are offering rate abatements, property tax deferrals, deferred development and planning fees, support for securing PPE, buy local campaigns, extended business hours as well as lane closures, shared street spaces and streamlining of patio and retail expansion programs. All pandemic recovery efforts should be shaped to support a strong, healthy, and environmentally sustainable Canada.

The following set of recommendations for consideration have been proposed by our membership:

1. Investment in Strategic Urban Locations
The pandemic has illustrated the need for a collaborative discussion among municipalities, provincial and federal governments to overhaul the model used to finance cities in Canada. Municipal leaders need to rethink their strategies to improve affordability, promote cleanliness, ensure stable supply chains, produce energy, and reduce congestion. Recommendations include:
a. Infrastructure – Infrastructure investments that have an impact on international investment attraction such as port, airport, convention centers etc.
b. Supply chain – Support supply chain localization initiatives.
c. Restore and regenerate downtown cores – Support for programs that increase residential growth downtown, as well as support for public transit, alternative transportation models and forward-thinking parking strategies.

2. Investment in Local Business
There is significant concern amongst members with regards to the long-term impact on the downtown core as a result of increased vacancies across the retail, restaurant and commercial office real estate sectors. Recommendations include:
a. Local business – Continued support for local businesses to mitigate the continued risks of the pandemic and pivot to digital presence and ecommerce solutions.
b. Business models – Support for businesses to transition to hybrid work models as well as provide support for businesses and realtors to rethink their planning decision to accommodate safe return and accommodation of employees.
c. Business retention – Support for EDAs to build and maintain strong business relationships with key employers in the region to ensure that they stay in the region; and support them in enhancing/expanding their mandate in the region.

3. Investment Attraction
Focus on maximum impact by attracting and retaining large corporations who will re-open with physical presence. Recommendations include:
a. Sustainable funding – EDAs require stable, proportionate funding to support programs that supports the attraction of new companies to metro regions and the downtown to fill vacancies.

Toronto, ON, 22 février 2021 — Consider Canada City Alliance (CCCA) a conclu sa réunion annuelle d'hiver et a démontré son engagement à travailler de concert avec les gouvernements fédéral et provinciaux sur la reprise économique, en particulier dans le domaine de l'investissement direct étranger (IDE). Parmi les idées partagées avec le ministre fédéral Marco Mendicino, la CCCA a préconisé le renforcement des allocations d'immigration, en mettant l’accent sur la course aux talents mondiaux et sur l’importance d’inclure les principales villes du Canada dans l'élaboration de politiques d'immigration progressives, puisqu’il s’agit d’un outil clé dans le travail d’attraction des investissements des membres de la CCCA.

« Le moment est venu de fournir de meilleurs outils à nos villes et aux régions métropolitaines environnantes », a déclaré le président du conseil d'administration de la CCCA, Malcolm Bruce. « Au cours de ces deux jours de réunion, la CCCA a constamment soutenu que la reprise économique du Canada nécessite de se concentrer sur l’IDE, d’attirer de nouvelles entreprises et de soutenir la croissance des entreprises existantes, et que la CCCA est l'organisation pour le faire, en partenariat avec le gouvernement fédéral. »

En plus de rencontrer le ministre Mendicino lors de sa réunion d'hiver, la CCCA a également tenu des échanges approfondis avec des hauts fonctionnaires d'Investir au Canada, d'Affaires mondiales Canada, de l'Ambassade du Canada aux États-Unis, d'Innovation, Sciences et Développement économique Canada, ainsi que de Destination Canada. Au cours de ces discussions, le rôle important que les régions municipales peuvent jouer dans la reprise économique du pays a été un thème récurrent. Un autre sujet majeur qui a été abordé est l'importance de nos aéroports internationaux, de leur réouverture et du maintien d'opérations efficaces sur les aérodromes puisque ces activités sont essentielles pour relancer l'IDE au Canada dans chacune des villes/régions membres de la CCCA. Limiter les voyages aériens internationaux dans seulement quatre des grandes villes du Canada aura un impact négatif important sur l’afflux d’investissements dans tout le pays, autant à court qu’à long terme. De plus, la CCCA a partagé son soutien à l'approbation de tests de dépistage rapide de la COVID-19, étant convaincue qu'il s'agisse d’une solution de premier plan pour rétablir la confiance des investisseurs étrangers envers le pays.

«Les idées partagées avec le ministre Mendicino et nos partenaires fédéraux sont d'une importance cruciale à l'heure actuelle», a déclaré la directrice exécutive de la CCCA, Niloo Boroun. «La CCCA est pleinement engagée, avec ses partenaires d'Investir au Canada et d'Affaires mondiales Canada, à attirer les investissements directs étrangers afin d'accélérer la croissance de l'emploi et la reprise économique pour les Canadiens d'un océan à l'autre. Nous pensons que l'IDE sera un moteur économique clé au cours de la prochaine année, ce qui octroie un rôle d'envergure à la CCCA et ses membres. »

​Consider Canada City Alliance (CCCA) réunit 12 des plus grandes régions municipales du Canada (Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, London, Hamilton, Waterloo, Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal, Québec et Halifax) afin de bâtir une économie nationale qui soit durable, compétitive à l'échelle mondiale et fondée sur la force collective des écosystèmes de chacun des membres. En tant que réseau établi d'agences de promotion des investissements d'un océan à l'autre, la CCCA travaille avec des réseaux nationaux et internationaux de partenaires pour faire du Canada un lieu de prédilection pour les investissements étrangers et le commerce international. 

Toronto, ON- February 22, 2021- The Consider Canada City Alliance (CCCA) has concluded its annual Winter meeting and formally resolved its commitment to working with the Federal and Provincial governments on economic recovery- particularly in the area of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Amongst the ideas shared with Federal Minister Marco Mendicino, the CCCA advocated the strengthening of immigration allowances as a key tool in CCCA FDI efforts, maintaining a critical focus on the race for global talent as part of Federal FDI efforts and the necessity of including Canada’s leading cities in developing progressive immigration policies.

“The time is now to provide greater tools for our cities and surrounding metropolitan regions,” said CCCA Board Chair Malcolm Bruce. “Over these past two days, the CCCA consistently advocated that Canada’s economic recovery requires a strong FDI focus on attracting new businesses and expanding existing ones and that the CCCA is the organization to do this in partnership with the Federal Government.”

In addition to meeting with Minister Mendicino at their Winter meeting, the CCCA also had extensive meetings with senior officials from Invest in Canada, Global Affairs Canada, the Embassy of Canada to the United States, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and Destination Canada. During those discussions, the important role that city regions can play in the economic recovery of the country was a consistent theme. Another major concern that was raised is the importance of our international airports, reopening and maintaining efficient airfield operations as it is an essential tool to reignite FDI activities in Canada for every CCCA member city/region. Limiting international travel into only four of our major cities will have significant negative impacts on inflow of investment across the country now and into the future. Furthermore, the CCCA shared their support for the need for rapid COVID-19 testing approvals, firmly believing it is a prime mean to re-establish foreign investor confidence in the country.

“The ideas shared with Minister Mendicino and our Federal partners are of critical importance right now,” said CCCA Executive Director Niloo Boroun. “The CCCA is fully engaged with our partners at Invest in Canada and Global Affairs Canada in pivoting Foreign Direct Investment to accelerate job growth and recovery for Canadians from coast to coast. We believe FDI will be a key economic driver over the next year which warrants a leading role for the CCCA and its members.”

The Consider Canada City Alliance (CCCA) unites 12 of Canada’s largest municipal regions — Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, London, Hamilton, Waterloo, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City and Halifax—to build a sustainable and globally competitive national economy built upon the collective strength of each member's ecosystem. As an established network of Investment Promotion Agencies from coast to coast, the CCCA works with national and international networks of partners to make Canada the preferred location for foreign investment and trade. 

​Toronto, ON, 2 février 2021 — Consider Canada City Alliance (CCCA) et Destination Canada ont signé un nouveau protocole d’entente pour tirer parti des réseaux de chacun et accroître la collaboration afin de fortifier le profil du Canada aux yeux des publics internationaux. Il s'agit de la plus récente avancée dans la relation de longue date entre l'équipe des événements d'affaires de Destination Canada et la CCCA.

Bien que des restrictions sanitaires soient toujours en place, y compris celles pour les voyages non essentiels, cette nouvelle entente se concentrera sur les opportunités à moyen et long termes, telles que la promotion bilatérale lors d'événements internationaux, le partage de données d'importance au niveau marketing, ainsi qu'un meilleur accès aux réseaux et aux dirigeants de chacune des organisations. Grâce à cette entente, les deux parties seront en mesure d’optimiser la promotion future du potentiel du Canada en matière de commerce, d’investissement et d’événements corporatifs auprès d'entreprises et de publics internationaux.

La collaboration entre les deux organisations se veut très naturelle puisque leurs mandats sont complémentaires. CCCA regroupe douze agences de développement économique du Canada pour promouvoir les investissements directs étrangers et le commerce du monde entier au Canada et dans ses villes. L’équipe des événements d’affaires de Destination Canada, quant à elle, fait la promotion proactive des destinations canadiennes et des centres d’excellence dans les secteurs économiques clés, en conformité avec les priorités du gouvernement du Canada, afin d’attirer des événements internationaux ciblés qui sont des catalyseurs de la croissance et du développement économiques au pays.

La directrice principale du développement des affaires de Destination Canada, secteurs économiques, Virginie De Visscher, a déclaré: «Ce nouvel accord témoigne de notre relation de longue date avec l’équipe de CCCA. Tirer parti des réseaux et des données de chacun et collaborer à des projets de promotion bilatérale créera de grandes opportunités, non seulement pour nos deux organisations, mais pour le Canada en soit lorsque les conditions permettront que nous le présentions à nouveau sur la scène internationale.»

​«La CCCA accueille favorablement l’annonce d’aujourd’hui», a déclaré Niloo Boroun, directrice générale de CCCA. «Le partenariat avec Destination Canada offre une nouvelle approche importante pour rejoindre les entreprises internationales, promouvoir l'investissement direct étranger dans nos villes et régions et ultimement faire progresser les conversations sur le Canada en tant que destination d'investissement de prédilection.»

Toronto, ON- February 2, 2021, the Consider Canada City Alliance (CCCA) and Destination Canada signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to leverage each other’s networks and increase collaboration to help strengthen the profile of Canada among International audiences. This is the latest advancement in the long-standing relationship between Destination Canada’s Business Events team and the CCCA.

While restrictions currently remain in place, including those for non-essential travel, this new agreement will focus on mid-to long-term opportunities such as cross-promotion at international events, as well as, in marketing collateral, the sharing of important economic data and greater access to each other’s networks and leaders. Through this agreement both organizations will be able to optimize future promotion of Canada’s potential for trade, investment and corporate events to international audiences and corporations.

The collaboration of the two organizations is a natural fit as their mandates are complementary. The CCCA unites twelve of Canada’s Economic Development Agencies to promote inward investment and trade from around the world in Canada and its cities. While Destination Canada’s Business Events team is proactively promoting Canadian destinations and centers of excellence across key economic sectors, in line with the Government of Canada, to attract targeted international events that are catalysts to economic growth and development.

Destination Canada’s Senior Director of Business Development, Economic Sectors, Virginie De Visscher, said, “This new agreement is a testament to our long standing relationship with the team at the CCCA. Leveraging each other’s networks, data and collaborating on cross-promotional projects will create tremendous opportunities, not only for both of our organizations, but for Canada as we showcase it on the International Stage as conditions permit. ”

“The Consider Canada City Alliance welcomes today’s announcement,” said Consider Canada City Alliance Executive Director Niloo Boroun. “Partnering with Destination Canada provides a significant new approach to reaching international companies, promoting Foreign Direct Investment in our cities and regions and ultimately advances conversations about Canada as a prime investment destination.”

Today, the Consider Canada City Alliance (CCCA) announced the appointment of Niloo Boroun as its new Executive Director. Ms. Boroun has already assumed the role and will be based out of Toronto.

“I am honoured to be leading the Consider Canada City Alliance and look forward to working along side our vibrant membership as we promote our cities and regions to an international audience,” said Ms. Boroun. “The rich partnerships between the CCCA, the Prime Minister’s Office, various ministries within the federal government and a close working relationship with Invest in Canada is deeply encouraging and has already produced a number of strategic initiatives for 2020.”

Among her years of work in both the public and private sector, Ms. Boroun notably has held roles in the Office of the Premier (Ontario) as a Senior Policy Advisor to the Premier, a Senior Policy Advisor and Public Appointments to the Minister of Research and Innovation (Ontario) and as Manager, and Acting Director, of Investment Services and Global Markets for Toronto Global (formally Invest Toronto). Ms. Boroun is also the Principal and Founder of the private sector based LCG Consulting. In this role, Ms. Boroun has undertaken project work for a wide range of clients across Canada and international markets such as Asia, North and South America and designs, implements and mobilizes international delegation strategies- focused in the tech sector. 
 
 “On behalf of our Board of Directors from across Canada, I warmly welcome Niloo to our team and look forward to achieving great things together,” said CCCA Board Chair Malcolm Bruce. “We are thrilled that an individual of her calibre is now part of the CCCA. We go into our Winter meetings later this month with a clear direction forward to gain even more foreign direct investment wins for Canada’s leading cities and regions.”

Cities welcome the opportunity to partner with new organization to support investment attraction

OTTAWA – March 12, 2018 –  The Consider Canada City Alliance (CCCA) and its members, thirteen of Canada’s largest and most innovative cities, applaud the Federal government’s commitment to move Canada forward in the global competition to attract investment. Today, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of International Trade, launched Invest in Canada, a new federal organization dedicated to attracting global investment and simplifying the process for global businesses to make Canada their new home, creating jobs that come with their investments.

As part of its launch, Minister Champagne introduced Mitch Garber as its inaugural chairperson of the board and Ian McKay as its inaugural chief executive officer (CEO). McKay, who has extensive investment and trade experience nationally and internationally, was the CEO of the Vancouver Economic Commission and chair of the CCCA.

“For the CCCA and its members, today’s announcement creates a significant opportunity to more closely align our activity to that of the federal government,” said Hubert Bolduc, interim CCCA Chair and President and CEO of Montreal International. “On behalf of the CCCA, I would like to offer my congratulations to Mitch Garber and Ian McKay on their new appointments, having worked with both, I am confident that Invest in Canada and the CCCA will work together to provide responsive investor services that will make Canada a premier competitor for FDI dollars.”

“In today’s rapidly changing geopolitical environment, the Canada brand has never been stronger,” said CCCA spokesperson Blair Patacairk. “We look forward to working with Invest in Canada to develop tools and resources that recognize and build upon the strengths of the partners selling Canada as an investment location and advance our global leadership position for economic growth and prosperity.”

About the Consider Canada City Alliance
The thirteen members of Consider Canada City Alliance (CCCA) include the city regions of Halifax, Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Waterloo, Hamilton, London, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. The economic zones of the members of the CCCA represent 59.6% of Canada’s population, produce 65.1% of its GDP and accounted for 83.4% of Canada’s GDP growth in the five years ending last quarter. As a united front, the Consider Canada City Alliance helps international companies determine the best strategies for business expansion and continually improve Canada’s ability to attract new investment and trade opportunities. ​