The Ontario Technology Corridor Advantage

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OTC brings together the top interactive digital media clusters in Partnership with the Province of Ontario London

Niagara Region

LondonNiagara

Hamilton

The Ontario Technology Corridor

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GTA ~ London ~ Niagara ~ Ottawa ~ WaterlooGreater Toronto Area and Ottawa Region

Population: 5.5 million

Companies

:

3,362

Workforce: 148,000

Population: 1.3 million

Companies: 1,800

Workforce: 80,000

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GTA ~ London ~ Niagara ~ Ottawa ~ WaterlooWaterloo Region and City of London

Population: 500,000

Companies

:

450

Workforce: 26,000

Population: 450,000

Companies: 350

Workforce: 8,000

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GTA ~ London ~ Niagara ~ Ottawa ~ WaterlooNiagara Region

Population: 427,421

Companies

:

470

Workforce: 1,000

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Top 10 reasons to invest in Ontario

Strong government support

An Innovative investment Partnership 

A well-developed educational infrastructure

1. Stable, highly talented, motivated workforce

2. Access to the North American market (NAFTA)

3. Openness to diversity and multiculturalism

4. Economic engine of Canada

5. World class research institutions

6. Innovation leadership

7. Low risk business environment

8. Superior infrastructure

9. Business incentives

10. Quality of life

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The Ontario Technology Corridor offers one of the world’s most educated populations

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PROGRAM TYPE NUMBER OF PROGRAMS 2008 ENROLLMENT

Game 14 712

Animation 22 1,083

Graphic Design 14 2,118

Media inc. Film 29 2,792

Other 4 432

Game & Animation Subtotal 83 7,137

Software Engineering (College) 6 216

Computer Science (University) 43 7,843

Computer Engineering (College) 6 1,049

Computer Engineering (University) 10 715

Computer Programming (College) 26 1,460

Computer/Software Subtotal 91 11,283

Grand Total 174 18,420

Digital gaming related programs

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What this

means for

your tech

company:

444 million people in North America’s $16 trillion market

In addition to eliminating tariffs, NAFTA assures:

Free transport of goods

Free movement of staff

Protection of investment/intellectual property

Product certification

Commercial border crossings average less than 10 minutes

New partnerships and investors

Skilled suppliers to support the energy industry supply chain

Economic growth

Ontario’s NAFTA advantage

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Openness to diversity and multiculturalism

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The Ontario Technology Corridor is the economic engine of Canada

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Ontario has world class universities and colleges

University of Waterloo Wilfred Laurier University University of Toronto Ryerson University York University Brock University University of Western

Ontario (Western) University of Ontario

Institute of Technology Ontario College of Art &

Design (OCAD) Carleton University University of Ottawa McMaster University

Conestoga College Centennial College George Brown College Humber College Seneca College Sheridan College Niagara College Fanshawe College Durham College Algonquin College La Cité collégiale Mohawk College

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RYAN: ACADEMY AWARD® WINNER FOR BEST SHORT ANIMATED FILM (2005)

Ontario – the innovation society!

University of Toronto ranked Canada’s top research-intensive university with 6 Nobel Prize-winning graduates

University of Waterloo ranked Canada’s #1 for “Best Overall”, “Most Innovative”, and “Leaders of Tomorrow” comprehensive university in Maclean’s Business Magazine 2007 survey. It is renowned worldwide for its leading computer science, math, and engineering programs

335 patents in 2007, the GTA ranked 15th in the world

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Ontario companies take advantage of Canada’s low-risk business and regulatory environment

A strong fiscal position Canada is experiencing 2nd longest period of

economic expansion in Canadian history, and has been reducing debt at a record rate

Low Inflation and low interest rates Over the past five years, Canada has enjoyed

relatively low inflation – averaging 2.3% compared to 3.2% for the U.S. and 2.1% for the G7.

Canada’s targeted inflation rate range between 1% and 3% has been extended until 2011

A growing domestic economy According the Prosperity Potential Index, Canada

ranks 1st in terms of the likelihood for economic prosperity in the year 2020

Canada is the best place for doing business in the G7 according to the Economist Intelligence Unit and it ranked fifth overall out of 82 countries in the global business rankings for the forecast period (2010-14)

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Excellent infrastructure for business air travel

Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport

Toronto Pearson International Airport

London International Airport

The Region of Waterloo International Airport

Toronto Billy Bishop City CentreAirport

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Niagara’s border crossings are amongst the busiest in Canada

Niagara is one of the busiest Canada-U.S. borders

Niagara has four monumental crossing bridges. They rank 2nd only to Kennedy International as the busiest point of entry between Canada and the US, the world’s largest trading relationship

The Welland Canal offers direct shipping access from the Atlantic Ocean. It is an important traffic route for transporting goods

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“The Better Way”

Ontario enjoys an established mass transit system

GO Transit is Canada's first, and Ontario's only, interregional public transit system, linking Toronto with the surrounding regions. The GO system carries more than 50 million passengers a year in an extensive network of train and bus services

The Corridor is a VIA Rail passenger train service area in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario

The Corridor service area has the heaviest passenger train frequency in Canada

The Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) subway system is linked with buses and streetcars that provides a one fare journey around Toronto, Markham, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Mississauga, Aurora and Newmarket

The TTC carries approximately 1.5 million riders on an average business day and uses hybrid buses which use less fuel and have lower emissions than traditional diesel-fuel buses

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Ontario’s Road and Rail Network

Ontario has the largest and busiest freeway network in Canada, consisting mainly of efficient 400-Series Highways and supplemented by municipal expressways

Well developed highway, rail, and shipping

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Highly integrated telecommunication networks

Highly integrated telecommunications network

The Ontario Technology network offers:

One of the most extensive telecommunication networks in North America

A highly integrated telecommunications network including:

- The largest “free calling” area in North America (416/647/289/905)

- 100% Digital Telecom Infrastructure

- High speed data services

- Internet connectivity

- Private lines

- E-business services

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G-8’s most favourable tax treatment for R&D

R&D savings vary by the size and type of corporation. For example, in 2010 the after-tax cost of a $100 R&D expenditure could range from $55.01 to as low as $36.72 for applicable research institutes.

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Ontario R&D incentives at a glance

SUPPORT PROGRAMS/INCE

NTIVESCRITERIA HOW MUCH

Ontario Business Research Institute Tax Credit (OBRITC)

Must incur qualified expenditures in respect of scientific research and experimental development (SR&ED) under an eligible contract with an eligible research institute (ERI)

20% refundable tax credit for SR&ED expenditures incurred in Ontario under an eligible contract with an ERI. The maximum amount a corporation can claim is $4 million

Ontario Innovation Tax Credit

Must carry on eligible SR&ED in Ontario

10% refundable tax credit for qualifying. Can be combined with OBRITC (above) for a total of 30%

Ontario Research and Development Expenditures Deduction

Must carry on eligible SR&ED in Ontario

Allows corporations to exclude from Ontario taxable income the portion of federal investment tax credit that relates to qualifying SR&ED expenditures through Ontario pool calculation on CT23 Schedule 161

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Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC)Digital media incentives in Ontario

Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC)

SUPPORT PROGRAMS/INCEN

TIVESCRITERIA HOW MUCH

Ontario Computer Animation & Special Effects Tax Credit

Computer animation and special effects activities in film or TV production

20% refundable tax credit for eligible labour expenditures

Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit

Labour, marketing and distribution expenditures for the creation of interactive digital media products

25% of eligible expenditures; 30% for qualifying small corporations

OMDC Interactive Digital Media Fund

Labour expenditures and eligible marketing and distribution expenses claimed with respect to interactive digital media products

A non-refundable contribution of up to $100,000 to a maximum of 50% of the project budget to create a market-ready interactive digital media content product

OMDC Video Game Prototype Initiative

The creation of a prototype in order to secure a publisher or attract financing for a market-ready, commercial video game product

A repayable contribution of up to $500,000 to a maximum of 50% of eligible expenses for their prototype

OMDC Ontario Sound Recording Tax Credit

Eligible production and marketing costs incurred by a qualifying corporation with respect to an eligible Canadian sound recording

20% refundable tax credit for eligible sound recording company with respect to an eligible Canadian sound recording by an emerging Canadian artist or group  

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Stable ~ Safe ~ Affordable ~ CosmopolitanExcellent culture and sports facilities

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Stable ~ Safe ~ Affordable ~ CosmopolitanSafe, stable, and well governed

Canada is a constitutional monarchy

Canada has a three-tiered system with Federal, Provincial, and Municipal levels of government

Municipal governments are under provincial jurisdiction and governed by an elected mayor and council

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Stable ~ Safe ~ Affordable ~ Cosmopolitan

Great cities and towns offering a great life

With low crime, little threat from instability or terrorism and highly developed infrastructure, Canada is one of the most liveable destinations in the world

Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)

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Very high quality of life

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