Kathleen Wynne’s trade mission heading to California and China
En route to China, Kathleen Wynne will be in San Francisco and Silicon Valley to meet with innovators, venture capitalists in information and communications technology and in Los Angeles to talk with people in the movie business.

TheStar.com
Robert Benzie
Oct. 30, 2015

Premier Kathleen Wynne is going West — and then she’s headed to the Far East.

Wynne flies to California on Sunday for the first leg of a two-week trade mission that will also take her to China.

“My first mission to China last fall generated agreements that resulted in almost $1 billion in new investments, creating an estimated 1,800 jobs in communities across the province,” Wynne said Friday.

“I made it a priority to return so I can continue building on these important relationships and drive further investment. I am confident that this mission will develop many new international business opportunities for Ontario companies, and bring even more jobs to our province,” she said.

En route to China, Wynne will be in San Francisco and Silicon Valley to meet with innovators, venture capitalists in information and communications technology and in Los Angeles to talk with people in the movie business.

Ontario is the third-largest centre of film and TV production on the continent — behind California and New York state — and she will be highlighting her government’s tax credits and the competitive Canadian dollar to encourage more movies and shows to be shot here.

The premier also plans to meet with California political leaders to discuss ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions because the province is linking its upcoming cap-and-trade system with Québec and California as part of the Western Climate Initiative.

“Ontario and California have a lot in common — we are both North American hubs for technology and film production, and leaders in the fight against climate change,” she said.

“This mission is an opportunity for me to promote Ontario’s leadership in these areas and open up new doors for future partnerships and investments.”

On Wednesday, Wynne leaves the Golden State for the Middle Kingdom.

The premier will be joined in China by Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade Minister Michael Chan, Economic Development and Trade Minister Brad Duguid, and MPPs Han Dong (Trinity-Spadina) and Soo Wong (Scarborough-Agincourt).

Representatives from more than 60 companies in agri-food, clean tech, construction, engineering, science and technology and hospitals and universities will round out the delegation.

As she did last October, Wynne will again be meeting government officials in Shanghai, Nanjing, and Beijing. She will also go to Hong Kong for the first time in an official capacity.

The premier, who will embark on trade missions to India and Israel next year, said Thursday it’s important to “foster these relationships” to increase investment in Ontario and help firms here do more business abroad.