The Ontario Technology Corridor Advantage

2 OTC brings together the top interactive digital media clusters in Partnership with the Province of Ontario London Niagara Region London Niagara Hamilton The Ontario Technology Corridor

3 GTA ~ London ~ Niagara ~ Ottawa ~ Waterloo Greater 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

4 GTA ~ London ~ Niagara ~ Ottawa ~ Waterloo Waterloo Region and City of London Population:500,000 Companies : 450 Workforce:26,000 Population:450,000 Companies:350 Workforce:8,000

5 GTA ~ London ~ Niagara ~ Ottawa ~ Waterloo Niagara Region Population:427,421 Companies : 470 Workforce:1,000

6 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

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

8 PROGRAM TYPE NUMBER OF PROGRAMS2008 ENROLLMENT Game14712 Animation221,083 Graphic Design142,118 Media inc. Film292,792 Other4432 Game & Animation Subtotal837,137 Software Engineering (College)6216 Computer Science (University)437,843 Computer Engineering (College)61,049 Computer Engineering (University)10715 Computer Programming (College)261,460 Computer/Software Subtotal9111,283 Grand Total17418,420 Digital gaming related programs

9 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

10 Openness to diversity and multiculturalism

11 The Ontario Technology Corridor is the economic engine of Canada  The Ontario Technology Corridor represents 90% of the ICT industry in the province. Key Sectors include: software development and services, telecom equipment, digital media, cleantech, microelectronics  Gaming is a key component of the Canadian ICT sector, generating between $1.5 and $2.0 billion in revenues in 2007  Home to over 6,000 ICT companies such as: –GTA: Ubisoft, Koei Canada Inc., CapCom Interactive Canada, –Waterloo: Research in Motion (Blackberry), Sybase, Open Text –London: Digital Extremes, Big Blue Bubble, Antic Entertainment –Niagara: Silicon Knights, Centre for Advanced Visualization –Ottawa: Magmic Games, Adobe Canada, Head Games, IBM, Fuel Industries, MARS Works, Jaded Pixel, XYG RGB

12 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

13 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 15 th in the world

14 Ontario companies take advantage of Canada’s low-risk business and regulatory environment A strong fiscal position  Canada is experiencing 2 nd 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 1 st 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 ( )

15 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 Centre Airport

16 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 2 nd 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

17 “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

18 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

19 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

20 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.

21 Ontario R&D incentives at a glance SUPPORT PROGRAMS/INC ENTIVES CRITERIAHOW 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

22 Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC) Digital media incentives in Ontario Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC) SUPPORT PROGRAMS/INCEN TIVES CRITERIAHOW 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

23 Stable ~ Safe ~ Affordable ~ Cosmopolitan Excellent culture and sports facilities

24 Stable ~ Safe ~ Affordable ~ Cosmopolitan Safe, 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

25 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)

26 Source: Mercer Human Resource Consulting, 2009 Index: New York City = 100 Very high quality of life