West at a Glance - Summer 2019 - Diversification

Opportunity in Calgary's growing digital technology sector

It is no secret that the last few years have been challenging for the City of Calgary. While Canada's economy continues to grow following seconomic weakness in 2015, Calgary continues to struggle. Calgary's economy gained momentum in 2017 and early 2018, driven by steady increases in oil prices. However, a plunge in the price of western Canadian oil later in 2018, in part due to pipeline capacity constraints, caused this recovery to sputter. Economic growth forecasts remain weak, high downtown office vacancy rates persist, and unemployment remains elevated.

Despite these challenges, Calgary is showing resiliency as it diversifies into new industries that support longer-term stability. One of these areas is digital technology, anchored by the city's young and highly-skilled workforce. According to Statistics Canada, Alberta's digital economy has grown by 24% since 2010, and in 2017 it comprised 3.6% of the province's total output and 3.2% of jobs. Compared to its population size, Alberta has the third largest digital economy in the country, and it is poised for growth. A report by International Data Corp suggests that Alberta companies plan to spend $18.4 billion on digital transformation by 2022.

Calgary is working hard to support its growing tech sector. The City of Calgary set up the $100 million Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund, managed by Calgary Economic Development. The fund has already made several investments in digital technology, including $100,000 to help NPower Canada launch its first location outside of Toronto. Using these funds, the company will provide free, short-term training to young, low income Calgarians seeking careers in the digital economy.

Similarly, a new $1.5 million project from Canada's Future Skills Centre will help displaced but highly-skilled energy sector workers to access tech training in Calgary. EDGE UP: Energy to Digital Growth Education and Upskilling Project is a 2-year program led by Calgary Economic Development, with several post-secondary institutions and private sector partners. The goal is to train displaced, mid-career energy sector workers for high-growth tech careers such as:

• data analysts
• full stack developers
• information technology project managers

Many of Calgary's professionals with backgrounds in science and engineering have transferrable skills needed to fill the growing demand for digital tech careers. Digital technology skills are also increasingly in demand in traditional industries like oil and gas.

Calgary's digital plan aligns strongly with WD's mandate to diversify and grow the western economy. Through the Government of Canada's Innovation and Skills Plan, WD is committed to building a culture of innovation and competitiveness, including supporting the growth of innovation ecosystems. For instance, WD provided a $500,000 repayable contribution to MobSquad to spark further growth in Calgary's tech sector. This local company employs Calgary-based software engineers and programmers to fill talent gaps in US tech firms. Another example is WD's $1.3 million repayable contribution toATTAbotics to commercialize its robotic warehousing and fulfilment system in Calgary.

As Western Canada continues to diversify and adapt to the economy of the future, WD is committed to fostering an entrepreneurial environment that supports innovation, growth, and competitiveness.

Building a diverse economy in British Columbia

The forestry sector is a cornerstone of the British Columbia (BC) economy. In 2017, forestry-related activities in BC represented 32% ($14.1 billion) of commodity exports and generated $992 million in government revenue for the Province of BC. The sector employed more than 57,000 workers and supported at least 7,000 businesses. BC’s forestry industry is a primary employer in rural BC and a leader in sustainable forest management and environmental stewardship.

However, there have recently been mill closures and curtailments due to the cumulative impacts of:

• softening international markets
• decreased access to fibre owing to increasingly severe wildfire seasons and the mountain pine beetle infestation

After years of steady growth, the sector is experiencing a contraction. Mill closures and production cuts made headlines during the summer of 2019, with thousands of employees experiencing shift reductions and layoffs. This follows two years of record-breaking wildfire seasons that led to declarations of a provincial state of emergency. When such events occur in communities dependent on a single sector like forestry, diversification into new and emerging industries is vital to support workers and a resilient provincial economy. Opportunities for diversification, however, can be limited by a community’s remoteness or other constraints.

In response to the significant negative impacts on businesses from the 2017 wildfire season, WD provided over $1.8 million in funding to the Community Futures Development Association of BC and local Community Futures (CF) organizations to facilitate economic rebuilding in affected communities.

One example of a project supported through this funding is in the town of Clearwater, BC, in the North Thompson River valley north of Kamloops. The forestry sector has been a major source of employment in Clearwater for generations, but the town is now dealing with the closure of the nearby Vavenby sawmill. The community has found an opportunity to decrease its vulnerability to fluctuations in the forestry sector by diversifying its economy and growing its tourism sector.

Clearwater borders Wells Gray Provincial Park. In spring 2018, Tourism Wells Gray received funding from CF Thompson Country to expand its digital marketing presence and to bolster tourism offerings in the winter, spring and fall shoulder seasons. This strengthens the sector and increases year-round employment opportunities.

Clearwater is located within the Simpcw First Nation’s traditional territory and its outdoor and cultural tourism products include cultural displays and traditional foods at the North Thompson Aboriginal Centre. With CF and Canadian Red Cross wildfire recovery funding, Tourism Wells Gray promotes these offerings through digital marketing campaigns and by training local businesses to work with travel companies to attract visitors to the region.

WD is committed to helping develop and diversify the western Canadian economy. It does so in a number of ways. This includes supporting businesses and communities through its network partners in the Western Canada Business Service Network, which includes CFs. WD also recently launched Grow West: The Western Canada Growth Strategy. This strategy will position the West for success through its four interrelated pillars, which include “diversification” and “communities”. As BC communities face economic uncertainty, WD will continue to work with organizations to diversify the regional economy.

Manitoba aims to lead globally in plant-protein production

The agri-food sector includes all activities from farm to fork, and is a key contributor to Manitoba's economy. Crop and animal production accounted for 3.8% of Manitoba's total GDP in 2015. Food manufacturing, the largest manufacturing subsector in the province, contributed 1.8%. The agri food sector represents an area of significant potential growth for Manitoba.

A sharp rise in middle class consumers in developing economies and changing consumer preferences have accelerated global demand for protein. In particular, demand for plant protein is expected to grow rapidly, as consumer preferences drive more customers towards organic and better-for-you markets. And an August 2019 report from the United Nations that said increased use of plant-based food and fuels are key to slowing climate change will only help to accelerate this trend among consumers. This gives Manitoba the chance to diversify its agricultural products.

The Government of Manitoba recently released the Manitoba Protein Advantage Strategy. This policy paper outlines economic investment into long-term, sustainable development of both the plant and animal protein sectors. The strategy positions Manitoba as North America's protein supplier of choice. To that end, the province aims to attract $1 billion in new investment in the plant processing industry and $500 million to the animal processing industry by 2025. Doing so is expected to create 1,550 new jobs.

The strategy aligns with the Government of Canada's Protein Industries Supercluster. The Supercluster is expected to increase GDP by $4.5 billion and create more than 4,500 new jobs over the next 10 years. WD is helping both provincial and federal strategies meet targets.

Manitoba is not just diversifying the types of plants it grows. Manitoba is also shifting towards value-added food production to create jobs and attract more investment to the West. Southern Manitoba appeals to manufacturers due to its:

• affordable and environmentally friendly hydro-electric power
• skilled workforce in Portage la Prairie and Winnipeg
• proximity to the United States border

Two major pea-processing plants are scheduled to open in the area in 2020. France-based Roquette Frères SA is building a $400 million plant near Portage la Prairie. It will require an estimated 125,000 tonnes of sustainably grown yellow peas. Burcon NutraScience Corp is building a $65 million processing facility outside Winnipeg that will handle 20,000 tonnes of pea and canola protein.

A number of partnerships through WD's Women's Entrepreneurship Strategy Pilot (WES) will increase the exports of Canadian agri food products into United States and Chinese markets. For example, a project with Prairie Fava Ltd. will help expand to the United States market through scale-up and product commercialization activities. Another project with GORP, a company that makes all natural energy bars, will improve production efficiency and develop an export strategy to access the Chinese market.

Saskatchewan's bumper crop in tech startups

Long known for its agricultural productivity, Saskatchewan is now earning a reputation for a new and rapidly growing crop – software development firms. These startups are increasingly finding market success with innovative, industry-leading products. Investors are taking note and making record-setting infusions of capital.

One software company, Vendasta, grabbed headlines in July with news that it had raised $40 million in venture capital from private investors. This was the largest investment in a Saskatchewan tech firm to date. The company provides cloud-based digital marketing tools and solutions to more than 16,000 companies around the world. It will use the funds to grow its workforce from 285 to 650 employees in the next three years. Most of them will be based in Vendasta's head office in Saskatoon.

Six months before Vendasta's success, 7shifts Scheduling Software, also based in Saskatoon, was in the news for having raised US $10 million in financing from investor groups based in New York and Toronto. The company developed an app that restaurants use to schedule and communicate with employees. The idea grew out of founder Jordan Boesch's efforts to digitize and simplify scheduling for his family's Quizno's restaurants in Regina. The app is now used by 10,000 restaurants around the world, including some major North American franchise chains.

According to industry association SaskTech, Saskatchewan's digital technology sector employs between 10,000 and 20,000 people. In 2016, the sector contributed $2 billion to the provincial economy – about 2.5% of Saskatchewan's GDP. SaskTech member companies created over 220 jobs in the in the first nine months of 2018, and SaskTech estimates the industry will need to add 400 jobs by the end of 2019 for members to achieve their hiring goals. Job creation numbers were estimated prior to Vendasta's recent influx of capital, and we can expect over 300 new jobs from that company's expansion alone. Fueled by a number of recent success stories and a surge in capital investment, the growth rate of Saskatchewan-based tech companies has averaged 100% in the past year.

The affordability of mid-sized cities like Saskatoon and Regina is cited as a significant advantage for starting and growing companies. It is also an advantage for attracting young professionals, such as programmers and engineers. Still, ensuring sufficient supply of skilled workers is a significant challenge. Firms like Vendasta, 7shifts and others recruit from around the world, while still supporting efforts by SaskTech and others to get more Saskatchewan young people into coding.

WD has been an active investor in Saskatchewan's tech sector as part of its commitment to diversification. Through the Western Innovation Initiative (WINN), WD provided more than $6.7 million to Vendasta in 2016 and 2018. WD announced a $3 million investment in 7shifts in 2019, along with a $3.5 million investment in Coconut Software. WD is also supporting the early growth of the next generation of tech startups through a close to $1.2 million operating grant to tech incubator Saskatchewan Collaborates – also known as Co.Labs.

Saskatchewan's agricultural and natural resources have benefitted the province during booms. But they have also brought about lean years, due to the unpredictable fluctuations of the weather and international commodity markets. The diversification created by Saskatchewan's growing tech startup ecosystem is a path out of the extremes of the boom and bust cycle.

Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) was established to develop the western Canadian economy and advance its interests in Ottawa.

The Department plays a key role as investor, delivery agent, advisor, pathfinder, and convener for the West by delivering on national and regional economic development programs that strengthen the West's traditional economic drivers while accelerating the development of new opportunities.

WD's strategic investments, and research and policy work, help entrepreneurs, businesses, and researchers move new ideas from the test bench to the market, support skills development, and foster business innovation. WD also advocates on behalf of western Canadian industry by informing national policy discussions to ensure that businesses are strong, competitive, and poised to take advantage of opportunities in the global marketplace.