It is with great pleasure that we announce that the Province of Ontario has joined our growing cross-border community.
Home to more than 14 million people and over 200 languages spoken, Ontario is nearly 40% of Canada’s population and GDP, is the 7th largest economy in North America, and houses 62% of international head offices in Canada.
It is the largest Canadian provincial trading partner with California and Ontario companies figure prominently in Southern California throughcross border trade, investment and collaborations. Nearly 300 southwest U.S. companies have a presence in Ontario, and have created over 16,000 jobs in the province since 2003. Similarly, over 335 Ontario companies employ over 18k people in Southern California with a combined annual payroll of $1.4 billion. Ontario accounts for almost half of all Canadian investment in the region.
Ontario will be represented in our MAPLE community by Ms. Chelsea Peet, Consul and Senior Economic Officer at the Ontario Trade and Investment Office, whose office is located at the Consulate General of Canada in San Francisco.
As part of a network of international trade and investment offices located in Canadian diplomatic missions around the world, Chelsea and her team work closely with Canadian federal, provincial and municipal partners to raise Ontario's profile and build commercial relations in key global markets. Entirely free and confidential, they support companies looking to expand/open new offices and facilities in Ontario, promote Ontario exports, and facilitate international research and innovation partnerships. Southern California is part of their overall territory which includes all of California, Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii.
Please join us in giving a warm welcome to Chelsea and the Ontario team. She is here in southern California regularly, and is happy to meet up, and can be reached at chelsea.peet@international.gc.ca and at 415.568.4380.