Hello, Brampton!  How are you guys doing?

(Crowd cheers)

Hello, Amazon!  Hello everyone. Thank you, Alex, for that warm welcome.  Thank you all for your incredibly warm welcome today.  I want to start by thanking you all for allowing me to be here today.  It’s a pleasure to join you on this exciting moment.

As evidenced by the folks assembled in this room, this is a really big day for Amazon.  This isn’t your typical all-hands meeting.

(Laughter)

And that’s because… and that’s because today marks the day one launch of a new high tech facility right here in Brampton, Ontario.  By integrating cutting edge tools, cutting edge robotic technology with traditional worker support, this facility will effectively and efficiently get Amazon products out the door and into the hands of Canadian customers.

The Amazon Fulfillment Centre will create more than 700 full-time jobs.  Those are good local jobs for folks right here in Brampton.  This is terrific news for workers and families across the region.

And this project is already well under way.  In fact, there are more than 350 people already hard at work here in the Brampton facility.  And it seems like all of them are here today.

(Cheers & applause)

This new initiative of Amazon is the proof that major multinational companies think Canada is a good place to invest and do business. And that should come as no surprise to Canadians. Entire communities, large and small, are quickly becoming innovation hubs and world-class centres of excellence. And businesses here and elsewhere are taking note.

The economic climate we have fostered right across the country makes Canada the obvious choice for just about any product or service-based business, whether it’s a new start-up, an established firm, or a massive Internet based retailer like Amazon.  Thanks to our stable investing environment, the lowest overall business costs in the G7, and the world’s soundest banking system, companies like Amazon know that investing in Canada and in Canadian talent is a great way to go.  And we, as a government, are more than happy to champion that because we realize that in order to create good jobs, grow the economy and strengthen the middle class, the public and private sectors must work together as partners.  This new centre is a great example of that kind of collaboration.  Collaboration for the benefit of all Canadians.

So thank you once again for inviting me to be part of your day one launch.  This is a great day, not just for the people of Brampton well-represented by your Mayor Linda Jeffrey and a number of great councillors, but indeed this is a great day for people right across the country.

Thank you very much, everyone.  I am happy to take your questions now.  Happy to take questions from media.

(Applause)