Texas

Vital links in aerospace, agriculture and tourism

Canada is a long way from pretty much anywhere in the Grand Canyon state. Toronto is 2,200 miles from Phoenix. Vancouver is 1,500 miles away. And yet the economies of Arizona and Canada are deeply intertwined – though tourism, aerospace, technology and agriculture.

Arizona businesses sell $2.6 billion worth of goods and services annually to Canadians. Canada ranks second only to neighboring Mexico as a trading partner for the state. Indeed, Canada is among the top foreign markets for virtually everything Arizona produces, buying 10 percent of the state’s goods exports – from semiconductors to fruits and vegetables. Canada is virtually the sole export customer for several items produced by Arizonians, including turbojets, motor vehicles, melons, tomatoes and peppers.

Arizona’s welcoming business climate has attracted hundreds of Canadian companies, including Bombardier (aerospace), CAE (aerospace), Bank of Montreal (financial services), Stantec (engineering), GardaWorld (security) and Mattamy Homes (residential construction). Nearly a million sun and adventure-seeking tourists also visit the state every year, spending $2.4 billion.

Arizona is also a key USMCA gateway for trucks transporting goods from Canada to Mexico, and vice versa.

Influential free trade supporters

“Cross-border trade means more Arizona jobs, a stronger economy, and greater opportunity for Arizona families.”

Senator Kyrsten Sinema (Democrat), January 16, 2020

“The ratification of the USMCA represents a historic day for Arizona, our nation, and our trade relationships. This new trade agreement means more jobs and opportunities in Arizona. And it paves the way for even more trade in the future.”

Governor Doug Ducey (Republican), January 16, 2020

Spotlight on Canadian business

Keeping business jets aloft

Tucson is home to aircraft maker Bombardier’s largest support facility for business jets in the world. The service centre, with a million sq ft of hangar space, performs a range of maintenance functions, including inspections, modifications, painting, custom interiors and fly-in repairs on the company’s various Learjet, Challenger and Global models. Bombardier, which has been in Arizona since 1976, employs roughly 850 people at four locations in the state, including many FAA-certified mechanics and structural technicians recruited through a partnership with the Aviation Technology program at Pima Community College in Tucson. 

Training the next generation of pilots

Clear skies, dry air and warm weather make Arizona the perfect location to teach pilots how to fly. CAE’s Phoenix Aviation Academy has 80 turboprop and jet engine aircraft equipped with advanced avionics tools to train pilots from across the U.S., Europe and India. CAE also has a fleet of flight simulators to replicate the flying experience on half a dozen aircraft models. The academy also hosts the cadet training programs for several major airlines, including American, Southwest, Jet Blue and Aeromexico. CAE operates a separate simulator-based training centre for commercial CRJ and Embraer regional jets at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, equipped with full-flight simulators for Bombardier CRJ and Embraer aircraft.

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