CANADA: YOUR BUSINESS
EXPANSION DESTINATION

Renewable energy company Innogy, a subsidiary of Germany-based RWE, has announced plans to develop two solar projects in Alberta. Construction on the 30-MWp Prairie Sunlight II and 27-MWp Prairie Sunlight III projects is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2019. Commercial operations are expected by the end of 2019.

Netflix has announced it will open its first Canadian office in Toronto. This first corporate office will join Netflix’s current studio operations in Toronto and Vancouver and reinforces the company’s recognition of the entertainment and media industry in Canada. To date, Netflix has invested $2.5 billion in productions in Canada. 

HSBC has opened its Global Data & Innovation Lab in Toronto, citing the city’s interest, investment and development of artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced machine learning. The 3,376 square foot energy efficient lab will soon employ over 50 skilled AI professionals, technologists, co-op students and interns, adding to the over 1,500 employees located in Toronto.

US-based online retail giant Amazon has expanded its tech hub in Toronto, Canada. It has opened a new 113,000 sq. ft. office in Scotia Plaza which is expected to create 600 new job opportunities. The new positions will be focused on software development, machine learning, cloud computing, digital advertising and artificial intelligence.

Shell Canada, Mitsubishi, Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS), Petronas and PetroChina are jointly developing a $40 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility near Kitimat, Canada. The largest private sector investment project will create 10,000 jobs at the height of construction.

General Motors Canada, a subsidiary of US-based General Motors, will invest $170 million into its assembly plant in Oshawa, Ontario. The plant will serve as a stamping facility, producing parts for GM vehicles and will also have a test track for autonomous vehicles.

Mitsubishi Aircraft, a subsidiary of Japan-based Mitsubishi, will invest $135 million to open a new office in Montréal, Québec. It will focus on certification and entry into service of Mitsubishi SpaceJet products and will create 100 new jobs initally with a further 150 jobs plans in the future. 

US-based Mondelez International is investing $40 million to expand its existent manufacturing facility in Hamilton, Ontario. The expansion has encompassed the implementation of a new $40 million candy production line and 1395 sq m of additional site area. The new line will serve the Canadian market and is expected to create 50 new jobs.

BHE Canada, a subsidiary of Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Energy, will break ground on a $200-million, 117.6-megawatt wind farm in southeastern Alberta next year. The Rattlesnake Ridge Wind project will be located southwest of Medicine Hat and produce enough energy to supply the equivalent of 79,000 homes.

Greengate Power Corporation and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners have entered into an agreement  to fund the further development and construction of the Travers Solar project. Located in Vulcan County, Alberta, Travers Solar is expected to be Canada’s largest operating solar energy project, with an estimated capital cost of $500 million. It is anticipated to provide electricity for more than 100,000 homes and to create more than 500 full-time jobs during construction.

US-based Mastercard has opened a new $510 million global intelligence and cyber centre in Vancouver, British Columbia. The centre, located at the existent office of Mastercard's subsidiary NuData Security, has created 380 new jobs, with staff to focus on areas including artificial intelligence and Internet of Things (IoT). 

Google plans to more than triple its work force in Canada over the next three years to as many as 5,000 employees across Toronto, Montréal and Ontario’s Kitchener-Waterloo region. The expansion will include three new offices, with the biggest growth in Kitchener, where it could have up to 3,000 employees working by 2022.

US-based chemical company Dow will invest between $200 million and $225 million to expand its ethylene plant in Fort Saskatchewan. The expansion will increase the plant's capacity by 130,000 tonnes per year. 

Ireland-based Accenture, a consulting and technology services firm, has opened a new hub in St. Catherines, Ontario. The new office is Accenture's second in the region and the company's third intelligent operations centre in Canada. The company plans to create an additional 100 local jobs by 2021.

DHL Express Canada, a global logistics company operating as a subsidiary of Germany-based Deutsche Post, will invest $100 million to expand its sorting facility at the Hamilton International Airport in Ontario. The firm will increase its facility from 18,580 sq m to 74,320 sq m and create new jobs.