Economic Development Agencies from Canada’s Large “C-11” Cities Agree to Promote International Trade and Investment with New Unified Brand

Sep 23, 2010 | Corporate Member News

ConsiderCanada.ca will demonstrate unified value proposition around the world

Economic development executives from 11 large Canadian cities across the country agreed today to create a new unified brand called ConsiderCanada.ca after meeting this week in Quebec City with 22 members of the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service from Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada.

The new branding recognizes the dominant role of urban economies and will be used to attract trade and investment opportunities around the world. According to members of “C-11”, Canada’s large cities represent more than 50 per cent of Canada’s economic activity. Similarly, the globe’s top 25 mega-cities, including Beijing, Mumbai and Mexico City, account for more than half of the world’s wealth, while the top 40 mega-regions account for 66 per cent of all economic activity and about 85 per cent of technological and scientific innovation, according to the United Nations’ biannual State of World Cities report.

Michael Darch, Executive Director, OCRI Global Marketing

“The world’s mega-cities urgently need our help to build physical and networking infrastructure, provide environmental technologies, and tap into Canadian expertise on healthcare, education and governance. Meanwhile, we need their help attracting investment from Sovereign Wealth Funds, and proving Canada’s value proposition to their multi-national companies,” said Michael Darch, Executive Director, OCRI Global Marketing (Ottawa). “Our large cities have much more to gain from banding together than competing against each other for growth opportunities,” added Darch. “The new ConsiderCanada.ca brand will give our 11 cities a consistent rallying point and a destination on the Web where trade organizations and companies from around the world can seek C-11 information, success stories, and contact us about investment opportunities.”

Economic development agencies participating in the C-11 include the Greater Halifax Partnership, Québec International, Montréal International, OCRI (Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation), City of Toronto, Canada’s Technology Triangle Inc. (Waterloo Region), Economic Development Winnipeg Inc., Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority, Edmonton Economic Development Corp., Calgary Economic Development, and the Vancouver Economic Development Commission.

“Large cities play an increasingly important role as the world strives to overcome recent economic obstacles,” added Carl Viel, President & CEO, Québec International. “The C-11 team has determined we must work together to tackle Canada’s trade and investment challenges. ConsiderCanada.ca will help us communicate the benefits of Canada’s financial stability, our highly educated population, equitable healthcare system, reputation for tolerance, and favourable R&D tax treatment to attract revenue, investment and jobs.”