Mayor Linda Jeffrey adds support in pitch to land Amazon’s new headquarters
Tech giant announces plans to open second North American headquarters
BramptonGuardian.com
Sept. 8, 2017
Peter Criscione
Mayor Linda Jeffrey has added her weight to the sales pitch by municipal leaders urging tech giant Amazon to set up shop in the Greater Toronto region.
“This is an exciting opportunity,” read a tweet from Jeffrey Thursday night, reacting to Amazon's plan to build a second North American headquarters. Jeffrey, along with Bonnie Crombie, Mississauga’s mayor, added their support to John Tory's pitch to lure “Amazon HQ2” to Canada's largest city.
The Seattle-based company said it expects to invest more than $5 billion (U.S.) in construction and “grow this second headquarters to include as many as 50,000 high-paying jobs.” A response to request for proposals must be submitted by Oct. 19.
A large educated workforce as well as the “presence and support of a diverse population, excellent institutions of higher education, local government structure, and elected officials eager and willing to work with the company” is among the lists of asks Amazon has put forth to potential bidders.
Major urban centres like Vancouver, Boston, Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Detroit have all publicly made known their interest in making a bid.
Jeffrey has recently staked her mayoralty on a promise to "disrupt the status quo". Much of this pledge lies in a vision to transform Brampton into a global innovation powerhouse.
A year ago, Jeffrey and other dignitaries joined Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the official opening of Amazon’s 850,000-square-foot robotic distribution centre on Heritage Road in Brampton.
Following Amazon's announcement Thursday, Jeffrey said the city is working with Toronto Global, established this year to lure companies to the Toronto region, and other partners on the Amazon bid.
"Make no mistake, Brampton is taking this opportunity very seriously, as it is our view that only the Toronto Region will be able to meet Amazon’s particular and extensive requirements," Jeffrey told The Guardian.
"Amazon's expressed need for talent, labour supply, quality of life, business culture, and access align very well with our regional value proposition. With council’s recent endorsement in principle of the $150 million university and innovation centre funding, and already being home to two Amazon robotic fulfilment centres, Brampton is emerging as an attractive player on the Innovation Super Corridor.”
