You can build a globally competitive business in communities across Ontario's North while enjoying backyard opportunities to relax and re-charge your batteries.

Northern Ontario covers over 800,000 square kilometres, representing nearly 90% of the Province of Ontario’s land area. Approximately 800,000 people live in Ontario’s North, which borders Manitoba to the west, Quebec and other Ontario regions to the east, and the USA, Lake Superior, Lake Michigan and other Ontario regions to the south.

The North is home to a diverse array of businesses whose products and services are known around the world. From sophisticated wood and paper products to mass-transit vehicles, from fibre-optic based call centres to remote-control mining equipment.

Demographics / Labour Force

Two-thirds of Northern Ontario’s population live in urban areas with over 90% of the urban population living in the five major cities of Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, North Bay, and Timmins.

The region's growing, highly educated and bilingual workforce is a great asset for companies doing business around the world.

Market Proximity

Northern Ontario companies are in a prime location to access the affluent markets of the U.S. midwest and Great Lake states as well as Southern Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba.

There are four main Canada-USA border crossings in Northern Ontario, which provide important linkages to markets within the USA. These crossings are the Sault Ste. Marie Bridge, the Pigeon River Bridge, the Fort Frances-International Falls Bridge and the Baudette-Rainy River Bridge.

Lighter traffic volume at Northern border crossings ensures that shipments are processed quickly and efficiently.

Internationally Competitive Business Costs

Canada is a globally cost competitive location for business - lower than the other G7 countries - according to KPMG's comprehensive 2006 survey, Competitive Alternatives. The costs can be even lower in major centres across Ontario's North. For example, R&D costs in Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury are 12% lower than the U.S. average.

Land Availability

Northern Ontario offers readily available land for commercial and industrial development. There are a number of industrial parks that provide both serviced and non-serviced lots in a variety of locations within each region. In addition, land is available in desirable central urban locations.

Ontario's North also boasts a number of research and incubator parks such as the Northwestern Ontario Technology Centre (NOTC) in Thunder Bay, the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre (SSMIC), the Northern Centre for Advanced Technology Inc. (NORCAT) in Sudbury and the Sudbury Centre for Innovation and Technology (SCITech).