Canadian cities react to losing Amazon HQ2

TORONTO Amazon waded through 238 bids that included promises of hefty tax breaks and canoeing to work to narrow down a short list of some 20 candidates, including just one Canadian city — Toronto. Here’s a look at what some of the other cities who placed bids had to say:

In an effort to sway Amazon, Calgary emblazoned the sidewalks across from Amazon’s current Seattle headquarters with messages including, “Hey Amazon. We’d change our name for you. Calmazon? Amagary? Love, Calgary ;)” and hung a 30metre banner outside saying, “we’re not saying we’d fight a bear for you, but we totally would.” The same message ran in a full-page ad the city took out in the Seattle Times.

Alberta’s Premier Rachel Notley said she had spoken with Amazon on Thursday and the company felt Calgary’s bid was “particularly exciting.”

“They actually said very, very good things about it and they said that they’ve got a whole new idea of Alberta and that Calgary did an excellent job,” she said.

“There’s no question, it’s unfortunate. It would have been great to have gotten that deal.”

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Edmonton refused to disclose the contents of its bid, even after it was cut from the potential cities to host the headquarters. However, a spokesperson revealed the city spent between $50,000 and $75,000 on its pitch.

Brad Ferguson, the president and CEO of the Edmonton Economic Development Corporation, said he was throwing his support behind Toronto, adding that with matters like this his philosophy is to root for his country, then his province and then his city. He wished Toronto well, but said he hadn’t picked up the phone to extend his best wishes to Mayor John Tory because “I don’t feel that is my role.”

Winnipeg’s bid included a humorous video starring football star Blue Bomber Obby Khan and Mayor Brian Bowman showing off the city’s best features to Alexa, Amazon’s voiceactivated system.

When Economic Development Winnipeg heard it hadn’t made Amazon’s shortlist on Thursday it released a playful video featuring Alexa breaking the bad news to Khan. In the video, Khan cuts Alexa short and instead picks up his phone saying, “Hey Google, I would love to pick you up tomorrow at 10 a.m. at the airport.”

Bowman said in an email that “the competition was fierce, but our bid positioned Winnipeg well for future opportunities.” He added he was “optimistic Amazon and other companies took note and will keep Winnipeg in mind for future opportunities.”

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Ottawa and Gatineau were offering Amazon space in the 120-acre stretch of waterfront lands that are poised for development, 15 minutes away from Ottawa’s airport and close to policymakers.

Upon hearing the cities had failed to make the cut, Ottawa mayor Jim Watson and Gatineau mayor Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin released a statement saying they were “disappointed,” but “proud” of the way the cities “came together.”

“Should Amazon HQ2 find a home in Toronto, there would likely be significant economic spinoffs for the Ottawa-Gatineau region, and we would welcome those opportunities,” the mayors said.

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Vancouver’s bid to host Amazon HQ2 focused on its proximity to the e-commerce giant’s original headquarters in Seattle, a move Metro Vancouver chairman Greg Moore said may have put it at a disadvantage.

Moore said he was disappointed to hear Vancouver hadn’t made the shortlist but described the experience as a learning opportunity.

“It emphasized the need for us as a region to be working together,” Moore said. “Amazon won’t be the last opportunity.”

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson released a statement saying he was disappointed the city didn’t make the short list.

“Vancouver offers much more than just an exceptional quality of life for our residents. Our city is home to a booming economy, fueled by Vancouver’s growth as an international tech hub with world-class talent.”

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Halifax rolled out a flashy website mirroring Amazon’s fonts and buttons to claim that Halifax housing the headquarters would bring Amazon a savings of more than $10 billion over 10 years.

Mayor Mike Savage told The Canadian Press he was “not surprised” his city had lost out because he felt it was “always a long shot.”