Mr. Speaker, yesterday KPMG released the results of a study presenting an international comparison of the costs of setting up an industrial operation in a G-7 country.
The purpose of this independent study was to compare the after-tax cost of startup and operation for 12 specific types of business, over a 10-year period.
Canada stood first for all the criteria examined, with a substantial cost advantage over the United States.
But I am particularly proud of the results for the Quebec City area, which also ranked first among cities in northeastern North America and which was surpassed by only the tiniest margin by the city of Edmonton among Canadian cities as a whole.
Quebec City, already world renowned for its tourist industry, can now boast that it is an area with a highly qualified labour force, and low energy, transportation and accommodation costs.
All foreign entrepreneurs looking for sites to start up and operate new technologies or products should take note that the Quebec City area is now recognized as a significant competitor internationally.
I wish to congratulate all the stakeholders who contributed to this achievement and—