Canadian Trade Commissioner Service - Ontario

Sector Snapshots

• Aerospace and Defence
• Automotive, Advanced Manufacturing and Materials
• Building Products
• Environmental Industries - Renewable Energy
• Environmental Industries
• Financial Services
• Bio Industries - Health and Life Sciences
• Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
• Mining, Nuclear, Electrical Power Equipment and Services
• Services Industries, Capital Projects and Building Products

Aerospace and Defence

Aerospace and Defence is a priority sector for trade offices in Ontario.

Ontario is home to over 350 aerospace and defence firms, primarily focused on systems and equipment. Capabilities range from design, to manufacturing and product support for the global industry.

As world leaders in major programs and platforms as well as niche markets, Ontario firms are suppliers to:

• Airbus A380  
• Boeing 787 Dreamliner
• U.S. led Joint Strike Fighter (F-35)

Today, Ontario-based firms have a reputation for developing innovative products and services such as:

• complete aircraft production  
• integrated equipment and environmental control systems
• landing-gear systems and turbine jet engine
• specialized services and maintenance
• repair and overhaul

In the defence sector, synergies between defence, public safety and commercial safety are creating new business opportunities in both commercial and military applications.

Please consult Trade Events in Canada for upcoming events.

Automotive, Advanced Manufacturing and Materials

Automotive, Advanced Manufacturing and Materials is a priority sector for trade offices in Ontario.

Ontario is the most important vehicle-producing jurisdiction in North America. Seven of the world's largest vehicle manufacturers operate 14 plants in Ontario. Ontario’s vehicle assembly industry employs 45,000 highly trained workers while the auto parts industry employs an additional 90,000.

Ontario is a world leader in:

• injection and blow molding  
• hydroforming
• ferrous and non-ferrous casting
• powder metal coating and fabrication
• assembly and sub-assembly
• stamping
• systems and component integration

Despite challenges in this sector, new automotive investments in Ontario and other locations in North America are providing opportunities for diversification. Sector growth in emerging economies is also providing new value chain and market entry opportunities.

Please consult Trade Events in Canada for upcoming events.

Building Products

Building Products is a priority sector for trade offices in Ontario.

The Ontario building products and construction industry is one of the province's largest industrial sectors, employing about 400,000 workers and representing about 12% of Ontario's GDP, worth an estimated 31 billion dollars.

• residential construction  
• non-residential construction (commercial, industrial and institutional)
• services (principally engineering services)
• repair/renovation services.

Although Canadian building products are sold in over 100 countries, the vast majority of exports in this sector are to a single market: the United States.

The industry is facing challenges due to the rising Canadian dollar, the downturn in US residential housing construction, and decrease is commodity prices such as oriented strand board and lumber.

Offsetting these challenges are opportunities in markets such as:

• Japan  
• Mexico
• Gulf states such as the United Arab Emirates

Please consult Trade Events in Canada for upcoming events.

Environmental Industries - Renewable Energy

Renewable Energy is a priority sector for trade offices in Ontario.

Ontario’s renewable energy sector is comprised of world leaders in research and innovation, as well as the commercialization of technologies in:Wind    

• Solar
• Biomass
• geothermal and hydroelectric energy
• deep-lake cooling

The promotion of environmentally friendly energy generation in Ontario as well as government incentives for clean energy development have supported this sector domestically and strengthened the competitiveness of Ontario firms internationally. As part of the economic stimulus plans of the US and other markets, opportunities in the renewable energy sector are growing.

Please consult Trade Events in Canada for upcoming events.

Environmental Industries

Environmental Industries is a priority sector for trade offices in Ontario.
Ontario’s 2500 environmental companies have a well deserved reputation for innovative technologies and services across a range of sub sectors including:

• water and wastewater treatment
• industrial and hazardous waste treatment
• solid waste management and recycling
• air pollution monitoring and control
• instrumentation and monitoring equipment
• environmental software and consulting services
• site remediation and brownfield development
• energy conservation

Ontario companies continue to develop innovative solutions to environmental problems and issues around the world. As part of the economic stimulus plans for Canada, the US, and other markets, opportunities for environmental technologies in infrastructure and development projects are growing.

Please consult Trade Events in Canada for upcoming events.

Financial Services

Financial Services is a priority sector for trade offices in Ontario.
Ontario’s financial services sector is diverse, encompassing:

• banks
• trust and loan companies
• life
• health
• property and casualty insurance companies
• credit unions
• securities dealers
• mutual fund companies

Toronto is North America’s fastest growing financial services sector and Canada’s financial and business capital. Strengths include:

• strategic planning
• financial product development
• risk management and systems design
• training and development

Toronto is the centre for 10 percent of Canadian economic activity at 123 billion dollars with 205,000 people working in the financial services sector. The clustering of financial services in Toronto has attracted highly skilled knowledge workers and a multi-lingual labour force.

Please consult Trade Events in Canada for upcoming events.

Bio-Industries – Health and Life Sciences

Health and Life Sciences is a priority sector for trade offices in Ontario.

Ontario’s health, life sciences, and biotechnology industries employ more than 60,000 people and generate annual revenues of over 19 billion dollars (2005). Ontario's biotech industry is Canada's largest - and North America's 3rd largest - regional concentration of biotechnology firms, with over 130 biotech companies and 60 research centres.

Ontario is well positioned to become one of the most innovative economies in the world, with its creative environment, diverse culture highly skilled workforce, and a strong track record of research and commercial success.

The Ontario Innovation Agenda supports continued growth and prosperity through a renewed focus on commercialisation by forging new strategic partnerships with industry. R&D tax incentives available to business in Ontario can reduce the after-tax cost of 100 dollars in R&D expenditures to less than 36 dollars. Business costs can be reduced even further through Ontario’s Bio-pharmaceutical investment program which can contribute up to 20% of eligible project costs.

Please consult Trade Events in Canada for upcoming events.

Information and Communications Technologies (ICT)

ICT is a priority sector for trade offices in Ontario.

Ontario’s ICT industry includes leaders in every sector including:

• telecom equipment
• software development and services
• digital media and web
• microelectronics
• VoIP
• wireless broadband
• photonics

Ontario is home to over 5000 innovative ICT companies ranging from home-grown leaders such as Research in Motion to foreign multinationals like IBM, Ericsson, and Dell.

Market opportunities are growing in new media such as gaming and simulation, and diversification is increasing into new value chains such as defence and security.

Please consult Trade Events in Canada for upcoming events.

Mining, Nuclear, Electrical Power Equipment and Services

Mining, Nuclear, Electrical Power Equipment and Services is a priority sector for trade offices in Ontario.

As one of the top mining and exploration jurisdictions in the world, Ontario is home to a community of global experts in:

• technology
• science
• metallurgy
• environment

More than 1000 Ontario companies supply everything from contract mining to customized equipment design to hundreds of exploration and development projects in countries around the world.

Toronto is the mine-financing capital of the world. More mining companies are listed on the TSX and TSX Venture Exchange than on any other exchange in the world. There are over 1100 mining companies listed, valued at 143 billion dollars.

Please consult Trade Events in Canada for upcoming events.

Services Industries, Capital Projects, and Building Products

Services Industries, Capital Projects, and Building Products is a priority sector for trade offices in Ontario.

Toronto is the largest business support cluster in Canada, home to all top 10 international human resources and benefits firms. As the business capital of Canada, Toronto is the major head office location for large Canadian-based businesses, as well as for many international firms with significant Canadian operations.

Engineering services is another significant industry segment accounting for more than 4 billion dollars in revenues for Ontario-based firms.

The province of Ontario is also home to more than 7,000 customer management centres. Growth in this industry segment has averaged approximately 20% annually in recent years, driven by both domestic and international investment.

• residential construction
• non-residential construction (commercial, industrial and institutional)
• services (principally engineering services)
• repair/renovation services

Please consult Trade Events in Canada for upcoming events.