GTA HotNews

January 2007

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 GTMA Activities & Announcements:

Join the GTMA’s Business Mission to Sweden, Denmark and Holland • June 9 - 23, 2007 on the Theme of Sustainability and the Environment

GTMA Welcomes Newly Elected Regional Representatives to its Board of Directors

The Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance is pleased to announce and welcome the following public sector Regional appointments to its Board of Directors:

Region of Halton              Mayor Cam Jackson, City of Burlington

Region of Peel                  Mayor Susan Fennell, City of Brampton

Region of York                 Regional Councillor Tony Wong, Town of Markham

Region of Durham           Mayor David Ryan, City of Pickering

City of Toronto                 Councillor Case Ootes (to be confirmed at the Feb. 5 Council meeting)

“We are delighted to have such high caliber individuals representing our regional and municipal partners. Collectively they bring a wealth of experience and knowledge, and we look forward to receiving their input and guidance as we roll out our new international initiatives in the coming year,” remarked David Gavsie, GTMA Chair.

We would also like to acknowledge and thank our outgoing public sector directors, former Mayor Robert MacIsaac (City of Burlington), Mayor Frank Scarpitti (Town of Markham), Councillor Michael Feldman (City of Toronto) and Mayor Steve Parish (Town of Ajax) for their commitment and leadership in advancing the promotion and marketing of the GTA internationally.

For the full listing of Directors click on GTMA BOARD

GTMA Corporate Partners Renew Their Support: BDO Dunwoody, Enbridge, J.J. Barnicke, Ontario Power Generation, Toronto Hydro Corporation, TSI International

GTMA Speaker at Pacific Telecom Conference

GTMA's John Jung, VP, International Marketing was the Moderator and speaker at the Pacific Telecom Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii (Jan 15-17) where he chaired a panel of the world's top Intelligent Communities including senior representatives from Taipei, Seoul, Ichikawa, Loma Linda and Waterloo. In addition to his role as Chairperson of the session, he also is the volunteer Chairman of the NYC-based ICF which handed out the awards to the TOP 7 cities around the world that, based on ICF's findings, are considered to be the most intelligent communities for the year 2007. see Item #14

“Why North” Meeting of the Automotive Communities Program, Detroit

GTA News:

Wi-Fi zone fastest wireless technology among 41 systems in North America

Congratulations to Toronto Hydro! In a recent independent test of 41 wireless broadband networks across North America, Toronto Hydro’s downtown Wi-Fi zone ranked as the TOP PERFORMER. The 14-city study, conducted by strategic consulting firm Novarum of Akron, Ohio, tested the speed, reliability and ease of use of a range of wireless broadband technologies, including Wi-Fi “mesh,” cellular broadband data and third-generation digital mobile networks.

The Economic Development and Tourism Department welcomed U.S. Consul General, John Nay, and members of his Commercial Services Office to Durham Region on January 23 at the Connecting Industry Luncheon at the Hilton Garden Inn in Ajax. The event engaged leaders from Durham Region's industrial community with representatives from our largest trading partner, the U.S. It provided a networking opportunity for the two groups and encouraged discussions about Durham Region's business climate and future prospects.

Ranked by Profit Magazine as one of the 10 best cities in the country for growth companies, the City of Pickering’s diverse economy and available industrial lands continues to attract leaders in the energy and environmental services industry. “The great thing about Pickering is that it has a diverse economy and is not dependent on a single sector. Overall, economic growth translates nicely into strong markets as they move forward” explains Keith Reading, Vice President of Research with Colliers.

Toronto to Surpass Calgary for Growth in 2008, Conference Board Reports

According to a recent report from the Conference Board of Canada, Greater Toronto’s economic growth will surpass that of Calgary in large part due to international migration. Industry sectors that are expected to perform better in 2007 include manufacturing, transportation and tourism. The report goes on to note that the Toronto census metropolitan area has been averaging 2 per cent growth per year. Toronto’s economy is expected to grow by 2.9 per cent in 2007, consistent with its growth over the past 4 years, with projected average growth of 4 percent between 2008 and 2011.  full article

Ontario bosses and job-hunters should find it easier to connect with each other as a result of the launch of a new one-stop job network that blends a complex array of federal and provincial training programs under one roof and promises there will be “no wrong door” to knock on for help.

“The new program…which has set up a toll-free number and website to steer workers and employers to the right program without having to navigate two confusing levels of government,” said MPP Chris Bentley, Ontario’s minister of training, colleges and universities.

Under the Canada-Ontario Labour Market Development Agreement Ottawa hands Ontario control of seven job programs that help nearly 400,000 people find training, set up their own business, get on-site and find jobs.

Exporters Buoyed by Falling Value of Dollar

Loonie continues slide to trade lower than 85 cents U.S. for first time in a year

Manufacturers and exporters aren't celebrating yet, but the decline of the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar is starting to level the playing field in their dealings with Canada's chief trading partner.  The loonie traded below 85 cents (U.S.) on January 4th,  for the first time since November 2005, offering relief for industries which endured its wrenching rise from barely 62 cents in November 2001 up to last June's 28-year high of 91 cents.

Ontario's Growth Plan Wins Prestigious International Award

Ontario’s Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe has won the American Planning Association’s 2007 Daniel Burnham Award.

This Award is given in honour of America's most famous planner and author of the landmark Chicago Plan of 1909. It is given to a plan that best illustrates progress, community benefit, and contribution to the advancement of the planning profession. The committee recognized the comprehensiveness of the Plan as a key strength. The Ontario government is the first recipient of this Award from outside the United States.

The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, met with senior political and regulatory officials and business people in Beijing and Shanghai in order to strengthen Canada's strategic partnership with China. During his meetings Minister Flaherty discussed ways to build upon the Canada-China relationship through increased trade and investment.

ICF Announces Top Seven Intelligent Communities of the Year

Three Ontario Cities Among 21 'Smartest' Global Communities

Stantec Architecture Readies for Expansion in Toronto

Stantec Architecture has announced the consolidation of four offices in the GTA and will be moving to a new downtown Toronto location at 411 Wellington Street West. Stantec will occupy approximately 40,000 sq. ft. of office space on two floors of the McGregor Socks building and will accommodate 190 employees.  Construction is planned to begin in March and operational by June 1, 2007.

Viva Magnetics, One of Toronto's Most Successful Manufacturers, is Expanding Again

Viva Magnetics is a Hong Kong manufacturer of CD and DVD holders which has an operation in Vancouver and two in Toronto's east end. In the summer of 1999 Viva contacted the Toronto Economic Development office to pursue property options. The result was an initial development of 133,000 square feet followed by a further expansion of 46,000 square feet on Neilson Road in the former City of Scarborough.

By 2002 the need for another building was becoming apparent and in 2003 Viva opened its second plant, 250,000 square feet, on Finch Avenue East. That plant was expanded by a further 121,000 square feet in 2005.

But Viva couldn't stop there. In 2006 the Company approached the Economic Development office once again with a proposal to expand its Neilson Road site. The proposal was to purchase some neighboring property and expand, yet again, by 90,000 square feet. The applications are proceeding through the City system and are expected to be approved in the first quarter of 2007.

Viva employs 725 people in its Toronto sites and is expected to employ a further 20 once the expansion is complete. The operations make use of the latest technology for its products. Just as important are the linkages to other companies in Toronto, Ontario and elsewhere. The moulding machinery comes from Germany but cooling equipment and other processes are made in plants throughout the GTA.

Brampton Engineering Unwraps Film Technology Centre

On November 15th Brampton Engineering (BE) opened their doors for customers, suppliers and industry guests to officially help launch the new BE Film Technology Centre. 

Located in the company's manufacturing plant at 8031 Dixie Road, the Centre features a 9-layer SCD-3 blown film extrusion system that BE has designed for blown film technology R&D.

The centre can be used to conduct trials with production-size equipment, fine-tune new products and produce sample rolls for further R&D. During the opening BE President and CEO Bud Smith also invited customers to use the Centre as a place to experiment with running their own lines. 

Smith also took the opportunity to announce that BE has partnered with Brampton’s Packall Packaging to install the first commercial AquaFrost line in North America. The purchase of this revolutionary technology will provide Packall with increased capacity while making better use of floor space and producing less scrape.  In addition, BE will be able to showcase the technology in a production environment at a facility less then 10 minutes away from their own Headquarters that is also located Dixie Rd.

Top 10 Trends in Tech, Media and Telecom from Deloitte for 2007 and Beyond

Power to the people: Study reveals shift in power to consumers from manufacturers

The release of 2007 edition of Deloitte's Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) Predictions points to a power transfer from content providers and manufacturers to the consumer, forcing technology, media and telecommunications companies to deliver product offerings that meet customer expectations.

The report identifies the hot-button issues for the near future, and also explains the business implications associated with these issues. The predictions are based on input from more than 5,000 Deloitte TMT practitioners and clients as well as external analysts from around the world.

"The entire TMT industry is focusing more on giving people the power to enjoy and consume what they want, when they want, and how they want it," said John Ruffolo, National leader, TMT, Deloitte. "New trends are expected to create new product categories, new markets, and in some cases even change the structure of existing industries." view study

People News:

Greater Toronto Airports Authority Appoints Dr. Lloyd A. McCoomb as President & CEO

Toronto Board of Trade Appoints Carol Wilding as President & CEO

Carol Wilding, an accomplished non-profit leader who has run Foster Parents Plan Canada and the Mount Sinai Hospital Foundation, will be the new President & CEO of Canada's largest local chamber of commerce.

Ontario Power Generation Appoints Pierre Charlebois as COO

Town of Richmond Hill Appoints Gwen Manderson as Strategic Initiatives Director

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Upcoming Events:

Delta Chelsea Hotel, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Toronto Board of Trade - Downtown Centre

Design Exchange, 234 Bay Street, Toronto

Toronto Board of Trade - Downtown Centre

Park Plaza Hotel - Dixon Road

MaRS Peer to Peer Series - Viron: A Successful Turn Around Story • February 20

MaRS Collaboration Centre