WELCOME TO SAULT STE. MARIE
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WELCOME
TO
SAULT STE. MARIE
1
Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY..................................................................................................................... 3
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 3
2. Cost of Doing Business ............................................................................................................ 4
2.1 Labor Rates ............................................................................................................................ 4
2.2 Real Estate ............................................................................................................................. 5
2.3 Infrastructure ........................................................................................................................ 6
2.4 Provincial and Local Taxes ..................................................................................................... 7
2.5 Economic Incentives .............................................................................................................. 8
2.6 Airport Access ........................................................................................................................ 9
2.7 Government Debt ................................................................................................................ 10
2.8 Federal Funding Support ..................................................................................................... 10
3. Workforce .............................................................................................................................. 11
3.1 Colleges and Universities..................................................................................................... 11
3.2 Workforce Stability .............................................................................................................. 13
3.3 Knowledge and Skill Set Base .............................................................................................. 14
3.4 Net Migration Potential ....................................................................................................... 16
3.5 Population and Scalability ................................................................................................... 18
3.6 Resource Availability ........................................................................................................... 20
3.7 Labour Competition............................................................................................................. 23
4 Business and Political Environment
4.1 Business and Political .......................................................................................................... 24
4.2 Political Support .................................................................................................................. 24
4.3 Technology and Vendor Ecosystem…………………………………………………………………………………25
5 Quality of Life
5.1 Cost of Living ..................................................................................................................... 255
5.2 Housing ................................................................................................................................ 25
5.3 Commute ........................................................................................................................... 256
5.4 Education ........................................................................................................................... 266
5.5 Climate and Geography ..................................................................................................... 277
5.6 Arts and Recreation ........................................................................................................... 288
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Sault Ste. Marie offers a compelling location to establish business operations. This document
provides detail about the community, its assets and business environment.
From the many strengths and advantages to locating in Sault Ste. Marie, we would like to
highlight a few key points for your consideration:
Economic incentives from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund and other Sault-focused
funding programs offer significant advantage and could exceed $5 million dollars
Training programs offered by Sault College and Algoma University combined with
support from the Canada Ontario job grant offer an excellent path for employee training
and will help ensure a qualified and capable workforce
Sault Ste. Marie offers a high quality of life for staff with affordable housing, low
commute times and a natural environment that is second to none
Political support from all levels of government will be very high - Sault Ste. Marie is
currently served by Conservative MP Terry Sheehan and Liberal MPP David Orazietti
who serves as the Minister of Government and Consumer Services
Business support organizations go above and beyond in Sault Ste. Marie and will receive
a strong support environment from employment service organizations, Sault Ste. Marie
Innovation Centre and Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation
Sault Ste. Marie has momentum - the City of Sault Ste. Marie’s credit rating was upgraded to A-A
Stable by Standard & Poor’s in 2015; the Canadian Federation of Independent Business released
a 2012 report titled “Communities in Boom: Canada’s Top Entrepreneurial Cities” and Sault Ste.
Marie ranked 2nd in Ontario ahead of Toronto, Ottawa and London. The City is investing in new
quality of place amenities and business support services that will drive prosperity in the future.
We invite your company to be a part of this growing and revitalized community and look
forward to establishing a new office for your organization in Sault Ste. Marie in the near future!
1. Introduction
Sault Ste. Marie has a long and fascinating history and is one of the oldest French settlements in
North America and was at the crossroads of the 3,000-mile fur trade route, which stretched
from Montreal to Sault Ste. Marie and to the North country above Lake Superior. This area was
originally called Baawitigong, meaning "place of the rapids," by the Ojibwa, who used the site as
a regional meeting place during whitefish season in the St. Mary's Rapids.
After the visit of Étienne Brûlé in 1623, the French called it "Sault de Gaston" in honour of
Gaston, Duke of Orléans, the brother of King Louis XIII of France. In 1668, French Jesuit
missionaries renamed it Sault Sainte Marie, and a fur trading post was established and the
settlement expanded to include both sides of the river.
Sault Ste. Marie was founded because of its strategic location in the middle of the Great Lakes.
It’s industrial history stretches back to 1894 when industrialist F.H. Clergue harnessed the hydro
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power of the rapids to establish an empire, including a steel company and paper mill. From this
time, the community has emerged as a resilient one that enjoys its beautiful surroundings and
position as a border community, situated on the international boundary between Ontario and
Michigan.
LOCATION
Located along the border of the United States and at the heart of the Great Lakes
560 km northwest of Detroit
680 km northwest of Toronto
POPULATION Source: Statistics Canada 2011
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario – 75,000 +
District of Algoma - 115,870
MAJOR INDUSTRIES
Traditional
Forestry/wood products
Metal manufacturing/products
Lottery and gaming
Contact Centre
Tourism
Emerging
ICT
Alternative Energy
Specialty manufacturing
MAJOR EMPLOYERS
Essar Steel Algoma Inc. (Metal Manufacturing/Products)
Sutherland Global Services Contact Centre (IT Support)
Agero Contact Centre (Roadside Assistance Contact Centre)
ARAUCO/Flakeboard Company (Forestry/Wood Products)
McDougall Energy (Oil & Propane)
2. Cost of Doing Business
2.1 Labor Rates
The labour force of Sault Ste. Marie is made up of over 67,130 persons.
Over 55.1% of the population of Sault Ste. Marie aged 15+ are participating in the labour force.
Participation Rate:
Sault Ste. Marie 55.0%
Mississauga 57.2%
Ontario 65.2%
Source: Statistics Canada 2015
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In Ontario, salaries and wages are competitive with those in United States jurisdictions. When
total compensation rates are compared, Ontario provides even more of a cost advantage,
largely because of publicly funded health care.
Ontario Wage Rates (Hourly)
The following are average wages by general occupation for Ontario:
National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Management occupations $34.69 $35.31 $37.25 $38.27 $39.63 $39.83 $41.95
Business, finance and administrative occupations $21.19 $21.70 $22.36 $22.94 $23.48 $24.13 $25.80
Natural and applied sciences and related occupations $31.17 $32.12 $33.11 $33.47 $34.36 $34.39 $35.78
Health occupations $26.26 $26.78 $27.16 $28.00 $28.26 $28.70 $29.25
Occupations in social science, education, government $32.22
$28.90 $29.58 $30.19 $30.96 $31.20 $31.34
service and religion
Occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport $22.57 $22.98 $23.14 $23.70 $23.89 $25.83 $23.12
Sales and service occupations $15.16 $15.41 $15.79 $16.16 $16.40 $16.76 $16.42
Trades, transport and equipment operators and related $25.59
$22.36 $22.77 $23.39 $23.94 $24.49 $24.97
occupations
Occupations unique to primary industry $19.60 $20.38 $21.27 $21.82 $22.62 $23.36 $22.77
Occupations unique to processing, manufacturing and $21.87
$19.11 $19.46 $19.62 $20.18 $20.69 $21.19
utilities
Source: Statistics Canada 2010-2016
2.2 Real Estate
Average cost of a house in Sault Ste. Marie is significantly less than other Ontario cities.
Average House Price (2016):
Sault Ste. Marie $169,802
Mississauga $548,816
Ontario $518,000
Source: Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) 2016
Residential building permits reflect the expectations of investors regarding the health of the
local housing market, including its price outlook.
In 2013 the value of residential building permits was $48.8 million, an increase of 27 per cent
from $38.4 million in 2012 and more than one-third above its long-term average of $35.7
million.
Since 2007 the value of Sault Ste. Marie residential building permits has increased in five of the
past seven years. Building permits have been above the average since 2010, exhibiting strong
growth in 2010 and 2013.
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The diagram below compares the value of residential building permits for Sault Ste. Marie and
Ontario against their long run averages.
The value of residential building permits in Sault Ste. Marie has remained firmly above its long
term average since the mid-2000s recovering from a decade of relatively weak performance.
Since 2007 the value for permits has remained in line with the provincial average.
2.3 Infrastructure
Sault Ste. Marie offers a sound foundation for any business requiring advanced connectivity.
The community satisfies these critical requirement with multiple fibre service providers and
path diversity with lit fibre provision by Bell Aliant, Ontera (now owned by Bell), and Shaw
Communications.
Path diversity is achieved by Bell, which has two “west-east” paths (Bell + Ontera) plus a
“northern loop” to Sudbury; and by Shaw, which has two paths in/out of the
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city via a “west-east” path to Sudbury (using Eastlink) and a “U.S. path” via the International
Bridge into Michigan where it connects to the regional network owned by Peninsula Fiber
Network, LLC (PFN) and its partner routes to Chicago, Minneapolis & Grand Rapids.
2.4 Provincial and Local Taxes
The table below provides an overview of the tax rates for the City of Sault Ste. Marie. The tax
rates are based solely on land and building rates – there are no taxes on fixed assets or
personal property.
City of Sault Ste. Marie Tax rates can be found at:
http://www.saultstemarie.ca/Cityweb/media/Finance/Tax%20Rates/2016TaxRates.pdf
Personal Income Tax Rate:
Personal income tax rates for Ontario residents are progressive. The combined federal and
Ontario rates range up to about 46 per cent, with the top marginal rate applying to taxable
incomes over C$100,000. Ontario's income tax rates are among the lowest in Canada at all
income levels.
Local Taxes:
GST Goods and Services Tax is harmonized and PST – Provincial Sales Tax (Ontario) is included in
a tax rate of 13% applied to the supply of most goods and services in Alberta, British Columbia,
Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, North West Territories,
Nunavut and the Yukon.
Almost everyone has to pay GST on taxable goods and services
You have to register for GST if you are providing taxable goods or services in Canada in
the course of your commercial activities and have taxable revenue above a prescribed
minimum
You can claim a credit to recover the GST on purchases and expenses you use in your
commercial activities
Sales of certain goods and services are not subject to GST and are designated as exempt
supplies
Payroll Taxes:
Corporations must collect Employment Insurance premiums and Canada Pension Plan (CPP)
contributions, from both the employer and the employee, to provide support for loss of
employment (including maternity leave) and retirement. The comparable rate for U.S.
employers and employees for social security taxes is higher, at 6.2 per cent.
Workers Compensation:
The Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 provides compensation to workers who suffer
from workplace injuries or industrial disease. The Workers’ Compensation Board compensates
workers through the payment of lost wages, health care costs and retraining and rehabilitation
programs. Employers fund the Board through annual assessments based on payroll and the
accident experience of their industry, thereby transferring to the Board all responsibility for
workplace claims of compensation. Workers cannot sue their employers for workplace injuries
or industrial disease.
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Occupancy Costs:
Electricity: Sault Ste. Marie current electricity rates are at this link:
http://www.ssmpuc.com/documents/assets/uploads/files/en/electricity_rate_sheet_no
v_1_2016_ssm.pdf
Water: Sault Ste. Marie current water rates can be found on our website at this link:
http://www.ssmpuc.com/documents/assets/uploads/files/en/bylaw_411_to_esablish_
water_rates_for_2016.pdf
Additional information: related to how Sault Ste. Marie compares for water/sewer and
electricity across the province at these links:
http://www.ssmpuc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=content&menuid=20&pageid=1014
http://www.ssmpuc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=content&menuid=89&pageid=1075
2.5 Economic Incentives
Sault Ste. Marie is fortunate to be able to provide companies with a number of significant
incentive programs that can contribute to the success of business operations. The primary
incentive programs include:
NOHFC - The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) is a crown
corporation and development agency of the Ontario government that invests in
northern businesses and municipalities through conditional grants, forgivable
performance loans, incentive term loans and loan guarantees. A series of programs
serve business of all sizes. The application process rolls throughout the year and a
volunteer Board of Northern Ontario citizens makes final approval on applications.
NOHFC can make significant investments ($5M+) in projects that benefit the North and
more information about their programs can be found at: http://nohfc.ca/
FedNor - FedNor is the Government of Canada’s economic development organization
for Northern Ontario. Through its programs and services, and through its financial
support of projects that lead to job creation and economic growth, FedNor works with
businesses and community partners to build a stronger Northern Ontario. FedNor’s
main funding vehicle, the Northern Ontario Development Program (NODP), focuses on
three main priorities: Community economic development, Business growth and
competitiveness and Innovation.
City of SSM Economic Development Fund (EDF) – The EDF is an annual allocation of
$500,000 that the City of Sault Ste. Marie sets aside for economic development
initiatives. Administered by the SSM Economic Development Corporation and approved
by City Council, the fund can provide strategic resources to enable economic
development initiatives in the community.
Training Programs – The Province of Ontario and Government of Canada have a number
of training assistance programs that are offered to employers with significant training
needs. Support for an individual's training costs under the Canada-Ontario Job Grant is
shared between the government and the employer. The government will provide two-
thirds (2/3) of the eligible training costs up to a maximum of $10,000 per individual.
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2.6 Airport Access
Air carriers serving the Sault Airport include Air Canada Jazz, Porter Airlines and Bearskin
Airlines. These airlines operate daily services to and from the Sault Ste. Marie Airport. With one
stop, passengers can fly to and from Sault Ste. Marie Airport to major destinations worldwide.
Weekly winter vacation flights serving the Sault Ste. Marie Airport are serviced by Sunwing
Vacations. The seasonal airlines operate on a weekly basis to and from the Sault Ste. Marie
Airport from mid-December to mid-March.
Sault Ste. Marie also has a unique option for business travellers with service from Sault Ste.
Marie, Michigan’s Chippewa Airport. A Delta Airlines commuter plane flies to Detroit and offers
a low-cost alternative for travel to the United States and points beyond.
The Sault Ste. Marie Airport is located within city limits. It is the only airport in northeastern
Ontario than contains a NAV Canada air traffic control tower. A total of 66,806 itinerant flights
(flights from one airport to another) were recorded at the Sault Ste. Marie Airport in 2015; a
significant amount of air traffic for a medium sized Canadian city.
Total Itinerant Aircraft Movements (2015):
Sault Ste. Marie 66,806
Greater Sudbury 35,794
North Bay 37,584
Source: Annual Reports 2015
The Sault Ste. Marie Airport has shown strong growth in passenger flights over the past few
years with the introduction of Porter Airlines.
Passenger Flights (2015):
Sault Ste. Marie 8,891
Greater Sudbury 11,766
North Bay 4,934
Source: Annual Reports 2015
Total Passengers (2015):
Sault Ste. Marie 201,347
Greater Sudbury 228,529
North Bay 83,318
Source: Annual Reports 2015
Sault Ste. Marie Airport
o With service from:
Porter Airlines
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Air Canada
Bearskin Airlines
Sunwing Vacations (Caribbean winter service)
Regional Service
o Chippewa County International Airport - 21 miles (33 km) south in Michigan.
This provides Delta Airlines service to Detroit, MI.
2.7 Government Debt
Sault Ste. Marie was recently upgraded by Standard and Poor’s municipal evaluation system to
be A-A Stable. The community continues to exercise sound fiscal management in conducting its
operations and is well positioned to continue to invest in good projects that support the future
prosperity of the community.
2.8 Federal Funding Support
Sault Ste. Marie has enjoyed strong support from the Federal government for a number of
strategic initiatives. The MP for the City is Terry Sheehan a member of the Liberal Party and past
Prime Minister Harper has made multiple stops in Sault Ste. Marie over the past few years.
Examples of federally funded initiatives include:
An investment of $2,120,000 to support the planning and design of a public deep
harbour port to modernize industrial docking facilities and increase shipping capacity in
the Sault Ste. Marie region. The public gateway deep harbour port project will be led by
the City of Sault Ste. Marie and is a partnership venture with public and private sector
stakeholders. Some of the private sector firms that are expected to use the facilities
include Essar Steel Algoma, Tenaris Algoma Tubes, Avery Construction and Purvis
Marine. The funding will assist with project planning and preparation, environmental
assessment, and consultation with appropriate First Nation and Aboriginal
organizations. The funding was provided through FedNor's Northern Ontario
Development Program (NODP), which supports projects that promote economic
development, enhance business development and growth, and facilitate innovation
throughout Northern Ontario.
A FedNor investment of $762,000 to enable the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre
(SSMIC) to undertake two initiatives. Of the total, $452,000 will be used to deliver the
Broadband E-business and Marketing program. Through the program, the SSMIC will
assist eligible small and medium-sized enterprises to develop their digital skills and
incorporate e-business technologies into their operations. With the remaining $310,000,
the Innovation Centre will deliver the Innovation Accelerator Program to help qualified
high-tech enterprises in the region with innovative business and product development
activities, such as market research, e-commerce and promotion, and lean production
implementation.
FedNor funding of $466,500 to enable the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre (SSMIC) to
undertake three separate initiatives. First, an investment of $295,000 will assist the
SSMIC to hire a coordinator to identify and address gaps in ICT infrastructure; provide
ICT training and awareness; and promote and implement broadband applications for
small businesses that will enhance their competitiveness and create jobs. The second
initiative will benefit from an investment of $140,000 to help the SSMIC implement a
regional smart energy strategy. Specifically, the funding will be used to determine the
10feasibility of developing a smart micro-grid in the community – a small-scale version of a
centralized electricity system – as well as develop a bio-oils strategy to support the
construction of a bio-energy facility. These initiatives would leverage local energy and
natural resource assets and help attract new industries and jobs to the region. For the
third initiative, the SSMIC will receive $31,500 to hire a youth intern to assist with the
development of a renewable energy sector improvement strategy.
Algoma University received federal and provincial funding totalling $16 million through
the Knowledge Infrastructure Program and Ontario's 2009 Budget for the Biosciences
and Technology Convergence Centre.
3. Workforce
3.1 Colleges and Universities
Another reason Sault Ste. Marie growing and thriving is a community wide commitment to
education and training. Sault Ste. Marie is home to two outstanding post-secondary institutions
with annual enrolment over 5,700 students and boasts a higher than average participation rate
in post-secondary education.
Algoma University, Sault College and Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
offer excellent opportunities for students and a welcoming, collaborative environment for
businesses.
The university and college have worked with the community to shape curriculum to meet
specific needs of Sault Ste. Marie’s knowledge based industries. The post-secondary institutions
have a well-established history of partnering with organizations to understand and deliver on
current and emerging requirements for education and skills. One of the benefits of a small
community is the institutional leaders are very open to working with industry to adjust
curriculum to ensure they are meeting the needs of local employers.
Successes to date involve developing and delivering programs as well as investing in faculty and
acquiring the latest in tools and equipment. These include the areas of:
IT/Computer Science
Business Management
Digital/Graphic Design
Gaming Technology
Human Resources Management
A more detailed listing of the computer science programming taught at the post-secondary
institutions may be provided.
Sault College
Sault College is the #1 college in Ontario as ranked by students and the largest deliverer of
apprenticeship training in Northern Ontario.
11Sault College has been very proactive in creating custom one-off courses for employers. Just
recently, Sault College joined with OLG’s IT group to understand their requirements for
upgrading programming skills on the latest software (python). A customized program and
delivery schedule resulted in participants being certified on the software by their provincial
governing organization in a timely and cost efficient way – all within Sault Ste. Marie. They’ve
done similar programs with Essar Steel to upgrade employees Essential Skills and Tenaris – for
Management Skills Upgrades.
In the fall of 1965, the institution opened its doors as the Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Vocational
Centre, or OVC. Similar "training schools" began in London and Ottawa. The OVCs evolved into
Ontario's community colleges. Sault Ste. Marie's OVC became the Sault Campus of the newly
established Cambrian College of Applied Arts & Technology. Its main campus was located in
Sudbury. A second satellite campus opened in North Bay. Community colleges enjoyed
immediate public acceptance and support. In fact, Cambrian's enrolment growth was so rapid
that within only five years the satellites became independent colleges.
The independent Sault College of Applied Arts & Technology emerged in 1973. Sault College has
grown tremendously over the years, adding programs in all disciplines. They now respond to the
postsecondary educational needs of more than 4,500 part-time and full-time students each
year.
Algoma University
Algoma University offers Bachelor’s degrees in more than 30 academic programs. International
students account for 20% of University attendees – the highest percentage in Ontario. AU offers
12Bachelor Degree options in Computer Sciences (with sub specialties in Computer Games
Technology), Information Technology (IT), Finance, HR & Business Systems Management.
They have been very proactive in expanding the university and they also have a co-op program
which offers students the opportunity to gain experience across a wide variety of Sault
employers and for employers to scout future talent.
Established in 1965, Algoma University has undergone many changes since the early days when
the then Algoma College first began offering courses out of a few portables on the campus of
what is now Sault College.
Initially an affiliate of Laurentian University in Sudbury, Algoma College began offering classes in
1967, and seized an opportunity for growth by moving into the former Shingwauk Residential
School building in 1971, one year after the residential school closed its doors. Algoma College
became Algoma University College, still affiliated with Laurentian, with the mandate to offer
university programming to residents of Sault Ste. Marie and the surrounding area. Many
programs required students to take the final year in Sudbury on the Laurentian campus, but
over time program offerings and courses grew until many students were able to complete their
degrees in Sault Ste. Marie.
In 2008, Algoma University was established as an independent, degree-granting institution when
the Provincial Government passed the Algoma University Act. Since 2008, the University has
consistently met growth targets designed to increase enrolment from approximately 1000
students to approximately 3000 students by the year 2020. Several new buildings have been
added to campus, including the Essar Convergence Centre in 2011 and the New Residence in
2012.
Lake Superior State University
Located in Sault Ste. Marie-Michigan, LSSU is a complementary institution with 2,600 students
enrolled. There is a high level of cooperation/integration among the three institutions – you can
start your degree at Sault College and finish at Algoma; or start it at Lake Superior on the
US side and finish on the Canadian side – all at attractive tuition rates.
3.2 Workforce Stability
Employer feedback in the region has pointed to an advantage for Sault Ste. Marie. Companies
have consistently cited the fact that they are able to retain employees for long careers and avoid
the churn that often takes place in more competitive job markets and larger centres.
In 2011 the unemployment rate of Sault Ste. Marie was higher than both Greater Sudbury and
North Bay.
Unemployment Rate (2016):
Sault Ste. Marie 8.5%
Ontario 6.9%
Source: Statistics Canada 2016
Ontario Health Insurance Plan - A resident of Ontario must have a health card to show that he or
she is entitled to health care services paid for by OHIP. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term
13Care pays for a wide range of services, however, it does not pay for services that are not
medically necessary, such as cosmetic surgery.
Most of your Ontario health benefits are covered across Canada. The province or territory you
are visiting will usually bill the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care directly for
hospital and physician services. In Quebec, you may have to pay for physician services and then
submit your receipt to your local ministry office for payment.
Ontario residents are eligible for provincially funded health coverage (OHIP). To be eligible for
Ontario health coverage you must:
be a Canadian citizen or have immigration status as set out in Ontario's Health Insurance
Act,
make your permanent and principal home in Ontario, and
be physically present in Ontario 153 days in any 12-month period.
Employment Insurance – Earnings subject to Employment Insurance premiums include salaries,
wages and paid leave.
Pregnancy/Parental Leave – In addition to the 17-week pregnancy leave for mothers, either
working parent may take 35 weeks unpaid parental leave to care for a newborn or newly-
adopted child immediately following the birth of the child or the pregnancy leave, in the case of
the mother.
Canada Pension Plan –The employee and employer contribution rates for 2013 will remain
unchanged at 4.95%, and the self-employed contribution rate will remain unchanged at 9.9%.
Private Pension Provisions – Over 2,000,000 of the Ontario labour force participates in
employer-sponsored private pension plans. All employer-sponsored pension plans must be
registered with the Financial Services Commission of Ontario www.fsco.gov.on.ca .
3.3 Knowledge and Skill Set Base
LABOUR FORCE INDICATORS:
Yearly Averages:
Participation rate 56.3
Employment rate 51.6
Unemployment rate 8.5
Source: Statistics Canada 2016
By Industry Divisions:
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting 223
14Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction 188
Utilities 438
Construction 2,848
Manufacturing 5,022
Wholesale trade 849
Retail trade 5,630
Transportation and warehousing 1,461
Information and cultural industries 438
Finance and insurance 1,032
Real estate and rental and leasing 626
Professional, scientific and technical services 1,439
Management of companies and enterprises 18
Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services 2,542
Educational services 3,268
Health care and social assistance 6,191
Arts, entertainment and recreation 1,531
Accommodation and food services 3,098
Other services (except public administration) 1,999
Public administration 3,771
Source: Manifold, Super Demographics, 2014
Occupation:
Management occupations 3,320
Business, finance and administration occupations 6,420
Natural and applied sciences and related occupations 2,470
Health occupations 3,425
Occupations in education, social science, government service, and religion 5,400
Occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport 770
Sales and service occupations 11,670
Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations 6,505
Unique to primary industry 620
Occupations in manufacturing and utilities 2,010
Source: Manifold, Super Demographics, 2014
15Language used most often at work:
Total population aged 15 years and over by language used most often at work 39,920
English 39,524
French 251
Non-official languages 12
English and French 112
English and non-official language 20
Source: Manifold, Super Demographics, 2014
Place of Work Status:
Total employed population aged 15 years and over by place of work status 37,022
Worked at home 1,149
Worked outside Canada 161
No fixed workplace address 2,938
Worked at usual place 29,260
Source: Manifold, Super Demographics, 2014
3.4 Net Migration Potential
Beyond the current labour force in Sault Ste. Marie, the community offers great potential to
attract new employees. First, one must consider that there is a strong network of ex-pats of
Sault Ste. Marie – people from the community that would like to return. There is a strong bond
to the region and many individuals who left to seek employment would like to return. The Sault
Ste. Marie Innovation Centre maintains a “Sault Reconnect” database and external organizations
like “Soo Connected” provide vehicles to connect with this talented employment pool.
Sault Ste. Marie also understands the importance of creating a welcoming community for
newcomers and has established a Location Immigration Partnership (LIP). The LIP was able to
take advantage of an initiative of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to encourage
communities across the province to develop extensive and comprehensive local settlement
strategy plans for the development and implementation of services for newcomers, to ease the
transition into the work force and social integration into the City.
The City of Sault Ste. Marie is the lead organization of the LIP and is made up of approximately
50 members representing many local organizations, institutions, service providers and cultural
groups. The main goals of the Sault Ste. Marie LIP are to:
Identify and eliminate gaps in programs and services for new arrivals and immigrants
Consolidate and centralize community resources and services for new immigrants
16 Address current and pending labour shortages through Immigration Strategy
Development
Develop and construct a working community strategy/plan
From September 2009 to June 2010, the Local Immigration Partnership conducted focus group
sessions with different sectors in the community including: Education, Social Services, Business
and Employers, Recreation, Culture and Newcomers. Community consultations were also held
and were open to all members of the public. Surveys were also distributed to many groups/
organizations and made available for the public through the Discover the Sault website.
The information gathered throughout this research phase was the key component to the
development of the community based settlement strategy prepared by the Local Immigration
Partnership.
In June 2010, the Local Immigration Partnership delivered a community based settlement and
integration strategy for newcomers to Sault Ste. Marie based on the research gathered during
the above time period. This strategic plan entitled “Creating a Welcoming Community” was
approved and endorsed by City Council.
Since the approval of the community settlement strategy, this report has become the main
source guiding the Local Immigration Partnership through each of its phases. The Sault Ste.
Marie Local Immigration Partnership is dedicated to the delivery of the recommendations in the
“Creating a Welcoming Community for All” Settlement Strategy, through the continuous
formation of community partnerships and community awareness projects such as the
Immigration Forum’s held in 2011 and 2012.
Further funding from Citizenship and Immigration Canada allowed the Local Immigration
Partnership an opportunity to form a LIP Council which is made up of 15 members. The LIP
Council is responsible for the guidance of the partnership and to provide oversight for the
planning to deliver recommendations outlined in the “Creating a Welcoming Community”
Strategic Plan.
Along with the evolution of the LIP Council, there was also the formation of sub-committees:
Community Awareness Campaign Committee
Community Forum Committee
Newcomer Welcome Centre Committee
Each LIP sub-committee is comprised of approximately 8 members. These committees are made
up of individuals with expertise and knowledge about event planning, attraction and retention,
community trends, local business and education and government.
The Local Immigration Partnership, LIP Council and LIP sub-committees make up a collaborative
community working group represented by all sectors. They maintain the commitment to
promote programs and services within the community & identify and eliminate gaps for
newcomers and immigrants following the guidance of the settlement strategy with an end goal
of “Creating a Welcoming Community for All”. http://www.discoverthesault.ca/
173.5 Population and Scalability
The population of the City of Sault Ste. Marie remained stable between the census years of 2006
and 2011.
Population Characteristics: Sault Ste. Marie Greater Sudbury North Bay
Population 75,141 160,374 53,651
Growth Rate (2006-2011) 0.3% 1.5% -0.6%
Source: Statistics Canada 2011
Population
Total private dwellings 33,901
Population density per square km 336.6
Land area square km 223.26
Source: Statistics Canada 2011
Age Characteristics of a population:
Total: all persons 75,141
Total Male: 36,111
Total Female: 39,030
Source: Statistics Canada 2011
Population Breakdown by Sex and Age:
Age Male Female Total
0-4 1,805 1,650 3,450
5-9 1,715 1,735 3,450
10-14 1,965 1,795 3,770
15-19 2,405 2,305 4,705
20-24 2,380 2,370 4,750
25-29 2,050 2,170 4,220
30-34 1,945 2,125 4,070
35-39 1,915 2,085 3,995
40-44 2,200 2,270 4,470
45-49 2,735 3,095 5,830
50-54 3,065 3,450 6,515
55-59 2,850 2,965 5,810
1860-64 2,575 2,695 5,275
65-69 1,880 2,125 4,005
70-74 1,585 1,860 3,445
75-79 1,365 1,620 2,985
80-84 1,025 1,400 2,425
85+ 655 1,315 1,965
Median Age: 45.7 % of pop. 15+: 85.8
Source: Statistics Canada 2011
Language first learned and still understood:
English only 71,160
French only 2,430
Both English and French 6,860
Other 2,190
Visible Minority Status:
Total population by visible minority groups
Visible minority Population 1,215
Chinese 290
South Asian 270
Black 260
Filipino 35
Latin American 110
Southeast Asian 40
Arab 85
West Asian 0
Korean 40
Japanese 25
Visible minority 0
Multiple visible minorities 35
Not a visible minority 72,415
Source: Statistics Canada 2011
Aboriginal Population:
Total: all persons 73,625
19Aboriginal identity population 6,740
Non-aboriginal population 66,885
Source: Statistics Canada 2011
Immigration Characteristics:
Total population 73,625
Non-immigrants 66,695
Immigrants 6,700
Before 2001 6,105
2001 to 2005 250
2006 to 2011 340
Non-permanent resident 235
Source: Statistics Canada 2011
3.6 Resource Availability
3.6.1 Broadband
A critical resource for any technology company is the availability of abundant broadband
resources. Sault Ste. Marie offers an advanced communication infrastructure to suit the needs
of large server farm projects. The unique geographic location of the community located
directly on the U.S. border provides the ability for redundant access to major U.S.
telecommunication backbones. The city is the home of the only fibre optic connection to the
U.S. located on the upper Great Lakes via the International Bridge. This is a unique advantage to
locating a facility in Sault Ste. Marie.
The Sault Ste. Marie area can meet the Information and Communication Technology needs as
the region is served by three independent broadband carriers each offering OC192 network
lines with 10Gbps and GbE capacity.
It should be noted that Sault Ste. Marie is also home to the headquarters of Ontario Lottery
and Gaming (OLG), which helps to demonstrate the maturity and sophistication of the
community’s communication infrastructure. The OLG has annual revenues surpassing $3.5
billion dollars and a number of province-wide services are at times conducted from the SSM.
204.Network
Shaw
Ontera Network
Bell Network
213.6.2 Power
Sault Ste. Marie provides an attractive location when considering the electricity resources in the
region. The area is unusual as it is one of the few areas in North America that has created a
generation system made up primarily of renewable energy assets. The Algoma region exports
up to 150 MW of power south (to Southern Ontario) and in peak seasons the municipality of
SSM consumes less than a quarter of the total power generated in the region. More renewable
projects could be developed in the region current transmission lines to export power to
southern Ontario are at capacity. A better solution for the community is to increase demand
and use this power locally! The area possesses a surplus of power and a diversity of supply that
includes:
Energy Production
Solar
KKR, a leading global investment firm with $77.5 billion in assets under management as of
December 31, 2012, owns a 60 megawatt ground mounted solar farm located in Sault Ste.
Marie. This $400 million project uses solar photovoltaic (crystalline silicon) cells to capture the
energy from the sun and convert it into electricity.
Sault Ste. Marie is also home to Heliene, a company operating an advanced solar panel
manufacturing facility that is capable of producing up to 30 megawatts of solar panels annually.
The community has also been very proactive in taking advantage of the Green Energy Act and
corresponding Feed In Tariff program and has over 500kW of rooftop solar installations
throughout the community.
Wind
Brookfield Renewable Power’s Prince Wind Farm was a two-phase project comprised of 126
wind turbines extending over nearly 100 km2. The wind farm has a total installed capacity of
189 megawatts and produces enough electricity to power 60,000 homes.
Sault College of Applied Arts and Technology also has an on-sight wind turbine that has an
installed capacity of 35 kilowatts. The turbine was erected in July 2008 and has since produced
44 megawatt hours of electricity. It is now used as a teaching application for the Mechanical
Engineering Technician program.
Hydro
Brookfield Renewable Power has five Sault Hydro Operations sites with hydroelectric generating
stations; Francis H. Clergue, Mackay, Gartshore, Hogg, and Andrews, located on the Montreal
River and the St. Mary’s River in Sault Ste. Marie and surrounding areas. The facilities have an
installed capacity of 203 megawatts, producing an average of 928 gigawatt hours of electricity
annually.
22Municipal Solid Waste
Elementa Group established a pilot plant in 2008 at the Sault Ste. Marie landfill site, with the
intent of converting garbage into energy. The technology breaks down carbon material
(municipal solid waste) at the molecular level using a patented steam-based reformation
process. Elementa and the City of Sault Ste. Marie negotiated a waste supply agreement to
progress into the second phase of the project, which consists of a demonstration plant with the
potential to generate 6–7 megawatts of electricity per year.
For a city the size of Sault Ste. Marie a truly impressive amount of renewable energy in being
generated in the region and community leaders have identified this sector as a priority for
development. A community “Smart Energy Strategy” has been developed and is being actively
implemented with local stakeholders actively seeking to support new projects.
Sault Ste. Marie also provides a stable and safe source of electricity for the mission-critical
operations of the facility. A facility located in Sault Ste. Marie could tie in directly to a line that
is fed from Brookfield Renewable Power’s generation facilities through Great Lakes Power
Transmission or be serviced by our local SSM PUC. The organizations can meet the significant
power requirements of a major data centre and some unique notes for the two are provided
below:
Brookfield Power - Unique arrangements can be made with Brookfield Renewable Power to
provide a direct feed to a site. In addition, a company could contract out for power purchase or
potentially purchase/own a transformer station which would eliminate the monthly
transformation cost.
PUC Distribution – PUC Distribution is the local utility provider for the City of Sault Ste. Marie. It
should be noted that customers of PUC Distribution pay 0.5 cents per kWh less than the rest of
the province for the government imposed “Debt Retirement Charge” which is listed below. The
Debt Retirement Charge is currently set at 0.2 ¢/kWh for PUC Distribution customers while
the rest of the Province pays 0.7 ¢/kWh. The OEB approved this reduced rate for our customers
in recognition of the corresponding historical percentage of power purchased by Great Lakes
Power from the former Ontario Hydro to supplement its energy production.
AVAILABLITY OF LABOUR
Number of Organized Unions in Area: Source: Ontario Ministry of Labour
There are approximately 70 organized Unions in the Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma District.
3.7 Labour Competition
MAJOR EMPLOYERS:
Top For Profit Employers and # of Employees:
Essar Steel Algoma 3,400
Agero 490
Wal-Mart 428
Metro Inc. 403
23Tenaris Algoma Tubes 330
Sutherland Group 250
Source: SSMEDC – Source Business Directory 2015
Top Not-For-Profit Employers and # of Employees:
Sault Area Hospital 1,757
Algoma District School Board 1,361
City of Sault Ste. Marie 1,313
Sault College of Applied Arts & Technology 940
Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation & Casino 917
Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board 900
Source: SSMEDC – Source Business Directory 2015
4. Business and Political Environment
4.1 Business and Political
Company testimonial after testimonial indicates clearly that Sault Ste. Marie provides a
supportive business and political environment. The community leaders are very focused on
diversifying the economy and making sure that employers receive the support they need to
succeed in their business operations.
The community contributes funding to the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation
and the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre to ensure that businesses have a team of
experienced professionals at the ready to service local and prospective businesses.
Community leaders are very collaborative and ensure that a coordinated approach is taken to
advancing the community. Businesses will benefit from this open environment that takes
advantage of the city’s size to enable efficient and effective response to business opportunities
and needs.
4.2 Political Support
From a political standpoint, the community is currently served by MP Terry Sheehan of the
Conservative Party and MPP David Orazietti of the Liberal Party. MPP Orazietti currently serves
as the Minister of Government and Consumer Services.
Both of these individuals are champions for advancing Sault Ste. Marie and ensuring our
businesses receive the support they need for ongoing success.
The current mayor is first time incumbent Christian Provenzano, who was elected in October of
2014.
244.3 Technology and Vendor Ecosystem
Sault Ste. Marie has a robust technology and vendor ecosystem. With major companies such as
Essar Steel and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation as anchors, the community has
built up a rich talent pool and vendor community.
The Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre (SSMIC) is a non-profit organization with a mandate to
grow the science and technology sector. SSMIC services over seventy science and technology
companies that range from startups in their business incubator to larger SME’s with a global
client base.
5. Quality of Life
Sault Ste. Marie offers an excellent quality of life for professionals and their families. The
community is situated in the heart of some of the most picturesque and beautiful environments
in the country. This provides opportunities for world class recreational activities that span four
seasons. As a border city, Sault Ste. Marie also offers unique opportunities to take advantage of
attractions and services located a quick bridge ride away from northern Michigan.
As a city, Sault Ste. Marie has a proactive population that is also committed to its arts and
culture scene. Further, the City of Sault Ste. Marie has invested heavily in improving the quality
of place for residents including the construction of a downtown boardwalk, establishment of the
Hub Trail and creation of new bike paths for residents. Sault Ste. Marie recently won the
Canadian Urban Institute’s Excellence in Project Development: Neighborhood Scale for the Sault
Ste. Marie Waterfront Revitalization project
The following sections provide greater detail of the advantages of living in Sault Ste. Marie and
also the tremendous arts and recreation resources available to its residents. In short, we are
proud of all this city has to offer and provide a wonderful lifestyle for any company to attract
and retain employees.
5.1 Cost of Living
The cost of renting a two bedroom apartment in Sault Ste. Marie is less expensive than other
northeastern Ontario cities.
Average Monthly Rental Rate – Two Bedroom Apartments (2013):
Sault Ste. Marie $616
Greater Sudbury $935
North Bay $890
Source: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation 2014
5.2 Commute
Sault Ste. Marie residents enjoy a much shorter commute time than other parts of the province
including Greater Sudbury.
25Median Commuting Duration (minutes):
Sault Ste. Marie 10.8
Greater Sudbury 15.8
North Bay 10.9
Ontario 20.8
Source: Statistics Canada 2011
5.3 Education
Educational Institutions within Sault Ste. Marie:
Universities: Algoma & Lake Superior State (MI) 2
Comprehensive Colleges: Sault College 1
Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board
Elementary Schools 10
Secondary Schools 1
Algoma District School Board
Elementary Schools 23
Secondary Schools 4
Source: ADSB (2016) / HSCDSB (2016)
Educational Attainment:
Total pop. 15 years and over by highest certificate, diploma or degree 63,040
No certificate, diploma or degree 12,725
High school diploma or equivalent 18,075
Apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma 6,125
College, CEGP or other non-university certificate or diploma 14,440
University certificate or diploma below bachelor level 2,000
University certificate, diploma or degree 9,675
Total pop. aged 25 to 64 by highest certificate, diploma or degree 39,920
No certificate, diploma or degree 4,210
High school diploma or equivalent 11,045
Apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma 3,980
College, CEGP or other non-university certificate or diploma 11,680
26University certificate or diploma below bachelor level 1,475
University certificate, diploma or degree 7,535
Source: Manifold SuperDemographics 2014
Major Field of Study:
Total population aged 15 years and over by major field of study -
63,045
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2011
No postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree 30,805
Education 2,605
Visual and performing arts, and communications technologies 685
Humanities 1,455
Social and behavioural sciences and law 3,120
Business, management and public administration 5,470
Physical and life sciences and technologies 610
Mathematics, computer and information sciences 950
Architecture, engineering, and related technologies 8,235
Agriculture, natural resources and conservation 960
Health and related fields 5,690
Personal, protective and transportation services 2,465
Other fields of study 0
Source: Manifold SuperDemographics 2014
5.4 Climate and Geography
The climate of Sault Ste. Marie is very similar to other northern Ontario cities that are located at
the same latitude.
Days per Year with Precipitation:
Sault Ste. Marie 175.84
Greater Sudbury 166.87
North Bay 180.32
Source: Environment Canada 2014
Days Above 0°C:
Sault Ste. Marie 175.84
Greater Sudbury 166.87
North Bay 180.32
27Source: Environment Canada 2014
Days Above 20°C:
Sault Ste. Marie 93.52
Greater Sudbury 95.6
North Bay 91.31
Source: Environment Canada 2014
Mean Daily Temperature:
Sault Ste. Marie 4.73°C
Greater Sudbury 4.1°C
North Bay 4.22°C
Source: Environment Canada 2014
5.5 Arts and Recreation
As a mid-size city, Sault Ste. Marie definitely punches above its weight when it comes to the arts
and recreation scene.
The geographic location of the city places it in one of the most picturesque and beautiful
environments in the country. To the east, by twenty minutes’ drive, the North Channel and St.
Joseph Island provide a beautiful cottage country location with premiere boating, fishing,
swimming and sailing opportunities. West of the community, by twenty minute drive, the coast
line of Lake Superior provides an awe-inspiring location with miles of beach and the sweet water
sea of the greatest of the Great Lakes. South of the community, the playground of upper
Michigan provides wonderful scenery and upscale communities such as Harbor Springs, Traverse
City and Petoskey.
The recreation of the region is unparalleled with opportunities for every outdoor pursuit one
can imagine. World class mountain biking, hiking, fishing, downhill skiing, cross country skiing,
boating, hunting, snowmobiling – the area is a treasure trove for those who enjoy the outdoors.
As a City, Sault Ste. Marie has invested heavily in improving the quality of place for residents
including the construction of a downtown boardwalk, establishment of the Hub Trail and
creation of new bike paths for residents. Sault Ste. Marie recently won the Canadian Urban
Institute’s Excellence in Project Development: Neighborhood Scale for the Sault Ste. Marie
Waterfront Revitalization project.
The arts scene has also been a focus area for the community and Sault Ste. Marie boasts an
impressive array of art opportunities for people of all tastes. A sampling of some of the arts and
recreation activities of Sault Ste. Marie are provided below:
i. Arts
28 The Art Gallery of Algoma is a full sized art gallery, located in downtown Sault Ste.
Marie, with permanent and travelling collections. The AGA was founded as a non-profit
public art gallery and incorporated on July 7, 1975. Established by a group of dedicated
volunteers and arts enthusiasts, the AGA honours its roots as a community organization
with its mission celebrating culture, educating visitors and enriching lives through the
visual art. The AGA’s vision is to be a premiere visual arts institution in northern Ontario,
gaining national recognition and international partnerships. The AGA moved to its
present location next to the scenic and historic St. Mary's River in 1980, a 10,000-
square-foot facility including four exhibition spaces, the Ken Danby Education Studio,
the Gallery Café and the AGA Gallery Shop. www.artgalleryofalgoma.com
Algoma Conservatory of Music is a non-profit music school that works in association
with Algoma University. Established in 1971, Sault Ste. Marie has become home to one
of the largest and finest music schools in Ontario. From professional violinists, singers,
flutists, guitarists and pianists, to our many youth orchestras and choirs - there is hardly
a music event in Sault Ste. Marie which does not involve one of their many resident
instructors or students.
Many of the faculty have relocated to Sault Ste. Marie from across Canada to teach at
the Conservatory and through Algoma University's Music & Fine Arts Programs, bringing
their performance and teaching experience to hundreds of students every year. A full
range of group music classes are offered for young children, as well as private
instrumental and vocal lessons for all ages with outstanding teachers. In addition there
are several levels of youth orchestras, group violin & cello classes, youth choirs and
guitar ensembles; as well as music theory and history classes to meet the requirements
for Royal Conservatory of Music examinations. The Conservator also hosts many student
concerts and special events including: Algoma Conservatory Concerts - featuring some
of the finest Canadian and international touring ensembles and soloists.
www.algomaconservatory.com
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