September 11, 2020
Amazon Comes Close to Home
Big news from Amazon this week.  
 
Canada’s largest online retailer has announced that they are planning to construct fulfillment centers in Hamilton and Ajax, Ontario. Ontario is home to 8 out of the 14 current fulfillment centers in Canada, with two more to come. The addition proposed for late 2021 will bring 2,500 full time jobs. As Doug Ford states, this is a significant boost to recover the economy. 

The fulfillment center in Hamilton will see 1500 employees picking, packing, and shipping small items to customers, “such as books, electronics and toys”. The 1 million-square-foot fulfilment center in Ajax will focus on large customer purchases, “such as sports equipment, patio furniture, fishing rods... and other household goods”. The mayor of Hamilton and the Member of Parliament for Ajax are both excited and thankful that Amazon has chosen their cities. The increase in jobs in these municipalities will overall benefit Ontario's economic recovery during the covid-19 pandemic.   
Closer to home, Amazon has already installed five delivery stations in Stoney Creek, Kitchener, Vaughan, Etobicoke, and Scarborough. These delivery stations have introduced hundreds of full-time and part-time jobs. Small and local businesses can now take advantage of Amazon's services, as they can acquire new customers with Amazon's products and services. Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic said, “As a global player in 21st century retail, Amazon’s new delivery station will create both new permanent job growth and small business opportunities for local entrepreneurs interested in establishing delivery businesses.” In the past 10 years, Amazon has invested more than $11 billion dollars into our country, while creating “an estimated 24, 000 jobs at firms other than Amazon”. Looking forward to seeing Ontario grow in economic strength and employment!   
Images courtesy of Global News and The Hamilton Spectator
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