Learn about investing in Canada

More and more global companies are investing in Canada thanks to our top talent, abundant natural resources and preferential access to markets around the globe. Find out how the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) has made our market even more attractive to investors from the Asia-Pacific.

• A welcoming investment climate
• Priority access to global markets
• Enhanced investor protection
• Non-discriminatory treatment
• Non-conforming measures

A welcoming investment climate

Canada is recognized as the best country in the G20 to do business. For more than a decade, we’ve led all G7 countries in economic growth. What’s more, investors benefit from:

• the most highly educated workforce among OECD members
• lowest total business tax costs in the G7 and 46% lower than the U.S.
• competitive R&D environment with the lowest G7 costs for R&D intensive sectors
• consistently recognized as having one of the soundest financial systems in the world by the World Economic Forum
• regularly ranks as one of the best in the G7 for overall living conditions and quality of life according to the OECD’s Better Life Index
• world-class universities, a universal health care system, and clean and friendly cities

Priority access to global markets

CPTPP provides canada with  preferential market access across the Americas, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. CPTPP is designed to expand to include new members to increase benefits for both investors and Canadian businesses.

Enhanced investor protection

If you’re an investor from the Asia-Pacific, CPTPP provides greater certainty, transparency and protection for your investments. Here are some highlights:

• most-favoured nation provision to prevent discrimination against investors from member countries
• assurance that your investments will not be nationalized or expropriated by the Government of Canada, except in specific circumstances and where accompanied by adequate compensation
• no restrictions on covered investments to favour domestic industry, such as requirements that the investor purchase local goods, export a certain percentage, or transfer technology to the host country
• ability to freely transfer capital and profits related to an investment into and out of the host country (subject to some exceptions)
• access to an investor-state dispute settlement mechanism to resolve disputes between states and investors

Non-discriminatory treatment

CPTPP ensures that investors from the Asia-Pacific receive fair and non-discriminatory treatment. This means they must receive the same level of treatment as Canadian investors and any third-country investor in similar situations.

Non-conforming measures

Canada maintains policy flexibility in sensitive areas such as Indigenous and minority affairs, culture, fisheries, social services (including health and public education), and certain transportation services, among others. This helps ensure that the Government of Canada can continue to keep measures on services and investment in place, based on domestic priorities.