Originally Published: October 12, 2014 8:00 AM Modified: October 12, 2014 6:17 PM
By Natalie Broda
Canada had a 2013 GDP of $1.825 trillion — and is the United States' closest trading partner. About 75 percent of Canada's merchandise exports end up in the U.S., according to the CIA World Factbook.
Some of Canada's most significant industries include chemicals, minerals, wood/paper products, food products, transportation equipment, petroleum and natural gas.
Canada also is the largest energy supplier to the U.S., one reason the country's petroleum sector is seeing rapid growth. Oil sands in Alberta have raised the number of proven oil reserves in Canada, which now ranks third in the world for proven oil reserves. Canada also supplies energy through gas, uranium and electric power.
Major export partners of Canada include the U.S. (74.5 percent), China (4.3 percent) and the United Kingdom (4.1 percent). Major exports include motor vehicle and parts, aircraft, telecommunication equipment, chemicals, crude petroleum and natural gas.
The Canadian government plans to balance the national budget by 2015, making cuts in the number of federal government jobs, military spending and funding for the CBC broadcasting network.
Crain's World Watch Monthly report showcases Michigan companies that are leaders in global markets and those that are expanding. Each World Watch features a different country. If you know of a Michigan company that exports, manufactures abroad or has facilities abroad, email Jennette Smith, managing editor, at jhsmith@crain.com.
COMING UP
• November: Brazil/Venezuela
• December: China/Taiwan
Autoliv Inc.
Based: Auburn Hills and Southfield (Autoliv Electronics)
Operations: Facilities in Tilbury, Collingwood and Markham, Ontario
Employees: 1,200
Top executives: Dan Garceau, president, Autoliv North America; Steve Rode, president, Autoliv Electronics
Products: One-piece woven inflatable curtain airbag, textile manufacturing, automotive seatbelt webbing, restraint central module, satellite sensors, radar
Clients: General Motors, Ford, Chrysler-Fiat, Nissan, Honda, Toyota, Kia/Hyundai, Daimler, Tesla, Mazda
Among Belfor's Canadian plants is one in London.
Belfor Holdings Inc.
Based: Birmingham
Operations: 34 full-service restoration facilities across Canada with office, production and warehouse spaces
Employees: 1,240
Products: Full range of fire, smoke and water restoration services.
Top executive: William Cook, president
More information: Belfor Canada restored properties following the catastrophic flooding in Alberta in June 2013.
Chrysler has an aluminum casting facility in Etobicoke, Ontario.
Chrysler Group LLC
Based: Auburn Hills
Operations: Headquarters, assembly plant and R&D center in Windsor; aluminum casting plant in Etobicoke, Ontario; assembly and satellite stamping plants in Brampton, Ontario; 440 dealers as well as sales offices and parts distribution centers in Canada
Employees: 10,245
Products: Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Fiat and Mopar vehicles and products including the Ram Cargo Van (Windsor), and the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger (Brampton)
Top executive: Reid Bigland, chairman, president and CEO of Chrysler Canada Inc.
Con-way Inc.
Based: Ann Arbor
Operations: Con-way Freight, St. Stephen, New Brunswick; Pigeon River, Sarnia, Windsor and Niagara Falls, Ontario; Pacific Highway, British Columbia; Emerson, Manitoba; Coutts, Alberta. Menlo Logistics operates from Mississauga, Ontario.
Employees: 306 at Con-way Freight; 192 at Menlo Logistics
Services: Con-way Freight transports less-than-truckload cargo between Canada and the U.S. Menlo offers multi-client warehouses in Canada and dedicated logistics facilities.
Top executive: Carl Fowler, vice president of sales and solutions for North America, Menlo Worldwide Logistics
Daifuku Webb Holding Co.
Based: Farmington Hills
Operations: Plant with manufacturing and office space in Hamilton, Ontario
Employees: 200
Products: Conveyors and conveyor parts, and specialized equipment
Top executive: Rob Meijer, intra-company operations manager
Clients: General Motors, Chrysler, Ford, automotive suppliers
Domino's Pizza Inc.
Based: Ann Arbor
Operations: Headquarters in Leamington, Ontario; more than 300 stores
Employees: 700
Top executive: Michael Schlater, president, Domino's Pizza of Canada
More information: Canada was the first international market for Domino's. Michael Schlater opened a store in Winnipeg in 1983.
General Motors Co.
Based: Detroit
Operations: Headquarters, engineering center and assembly plant in Oshawa, Ontario; assembly plants in Ingersoll and St. Catharines, Ontario
Employees: 9,000
Products: Chevrolet Equinox, GMC Terrain, engines and six-speed transmissions, Chevrolet Impala and Camaro, Buick Regal and Cadillac XTS
Top executive: Kevin Williams, president and managing director of GM Canada
Inteva's manufacturing and assembly facility, Inteva Oshawa Operations, opened in Whitby, Ontario, in 2010.
Inteva Products LLC
Based: Troy
Operations: Tier-one automotive manufacturing and assembly facility, Inteva Oshawa Operations, is in Whitby, Ontario
Employees: 140
Products: Produces and assembles automotive cockpits and headliners
Top executive: Pat Stewart, vice president and executive director of interior systems
Clients: General Motors
One of Kelly Services' many Canadian offices is in Calgary.
Kelly Services Inc.
Based: Troy
Operations: Headquarters in Toronto; 23 offices across Canada
Employees: 175 permanent staff and more than 6,800 temporary employees
Services: Outsourcing and consulting services as well as staffing on a temporary, temporary-to-hire and direct-hire basis
Top executive: Kristin Supancich, vice president and general manager, Canadian operations
Lear Corp.
Based: Southfield
Operations: Manufacturing in Ajax and Kitchener, Ontario
Employees: 1,100
Products: Seats and seat components
Top executive: Ray Scott, president of seating operations
Clients: General Motors, Chrysler
NSF International
Based: Ann Arbor
Operations: Offices and laboratories in Montreal; and in Ontario in Guelph, Burlington and Aurora
Employees: 253
Services: Standards development, auditing, testing, certification and training to a range of industries.
Top executives: Serban Teodoresco, global strategic consulting managing director; Petra Schennach, training and education global managing director, NSF International global food division
RGIS
Based: Auburn Hills
Operations: Head office in Mississauga, Ontario, with district offices across Canada
Employees: 3,500
Products/services: Physical inventory, fixed/capital asset inventory, merchandising, space optimization, macro space software, store surveys and related services
Top executive: Jean Daniel Bouchard, senior vice president of RGIS Canada and Global Specialty Services
Clients: Shoppers Drug Mart Corp., Reitmans Canada Ltd., Walmart Canada Corp., Canadian Tire Corp. Ltd., 7-Eleven
TI Automotive Ltd.
Based: Auburn Hills
Operations: Fluid-carrying systems plants in Bramalea and Cambridge, Ontario
Employees: 148
Products: Brake and fuel lines, fuel assemblies
Top executives: Derek McDonald, plant manager; Carson Hodder, plant manager
Clients: Hitachi, MEC Products, Ivaco Rolling Mills, Atlas Hydraulics, Transfer Flow Inc., YH America, Toyota and internal
Ziebart International Corp.
Based: Troy
Operations: 84 franchise locations, with the master licensee located in Laval, Quebec
Employees: 114
Services: A line of appearance and protection services
Top executive: Thomas Wolfe, president and CEO of Ziebart International Corp.
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