Amazon has released its annual year-end compilation of how the company is investing in Canada. The report features the latest data about the company’s presence in Canada, and its impact on local communities.
“Amazon is a powerful engine of growth for the Canadian economy. Through innovation, investments, and job creation, Amazon is helping transform the economic potential of communities across the country,” said the report.
“Since 2010, we’ve made direct investments in our Canadian operations of more than
$50 billion. This includes both capital expenditures (such as the fulfilment centres and data centres we build) and operating expenditures (such as the jobs we create). These direct investments create a ripple effect through the economy: Keystone Strategy, an independent economics consulting firm, estimates that Amazon’s investments contributed an additional $43 billion in spillover value-added effects to the Canadian GDP between 2010 and 2023 (Amazon’s spillover value-added effects represent the indirect effects of Amazon’s investments on Canada’s GDP. Amazon’s investment has indirect effects in the economy due to the expanded production of firms that supply the goods and services purchased by Amazon).
“These investments have helped us create more than 46,000 good jobs with competitive pay and benefits across Canada, at our corporate Tech Hubs in downtown Toronto and Vancouver and our close to 70 Operations and logistics sites from coast to coast.
“At Amazon’s Vancouver Tech Hub, we recently celebrated a milestone by moving into the 21-floor South Tower of the Post and inaugurating a new 43,000 square foot atrium that provides collaboration spaces for Amazon employees, including a café, event venue, break- out areas, and meeting rooms.”
The company said it is investing more than $100 million toward pay increases for customer fulfillment and middle and last mile logistics employees in Canada, a 54% increase over our 2023 total investment in compensation. This investment brings Amazon’s average frontline hourly base wage to $22.25 per hour—up from close to $20.80 in 2023.
“During Amazon’s annual Global Month of Volunteering in May, more than 6,000 employees across Canada contributed more than 5,500 volunteer hours to over 90 community organizations,”it said.
“More than 60 local brands are represented on the Amazon.ca storefront dedicated Les Produits du Québec, whose three certification brands—Product of Québec, Manufactured in Québec, and Designed in Québec—guarantee that a product is truly made locally.
“Amazon MGM Studios, as well as MGM Television and MGM+ Studios, have produced and commissioned more than 40 series and films that have been shot in Canada.
“Our 2024 report illustrates how we use our scale, technology, resources, and passion to generate economic benefits and vitality—including our growing contributions to local communities, sustainability initiatives, and more.”
Key new data in the report includes:
- Amazon’s workforce has grown to more than 46,000 people across Canada, working in Operations and corporate roles.
- Amazon has grown to more than 70 Operations and logistics sites across Canada. Highlights from 2024 include the opening of YYC4, a 2.8 million square foot Amazon Robotics fulfilment centre in Calgary, Alberta, and new AMZL delivery stations in Burnaby, BC; Calgary, AB; Windsor, ON; Richmond Hill, ON; and Ottawa, ON. These investments in Amazon’s local logistics network are improving delivery speeds for customers: currently, more than 20 million items are available with free Prime shipping in Canada, and Prime members within the Greater Toronto Area, Southwestern Ontario, and Metro Vancouver can now enjoy faster Same-Day Delivery, with the option to select a new 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. delivery window at checkout.
- Amazon is supporting the local community in new ways: in 2024, Amazon launched its first official collaboration with the Royal Canadian Legion to offer supporters the opportunity to purchase lapel Poppies and other official Remembrance items in the Amazon.ca store. In September 2024, the Centre Lasallien, located in Montréal, Quebec’s Saint-Michel neighbourhood, teamed up with AWS to open the first AWS Think Big Space in Canada. This dedicated educational hub offers students, educators, and local residents the opportunity to discover and explore innovative and imaginative ideas in the STEAM fields through a range of learning paths, including coding, programming, robotics, and much more.
- As of October 2024, Amazon has removed all plastic air pillows from delivery packaging used at our global fulfilment centres (including those in Canada), as part of ongoing investments to reduce packaging waste.
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