The first commercial oil well in North America was drilled at Oil Springs near Sarnia in 1858. The first oil company in North America was International Petroleum and Mining Company, founded in Hamilton, Ontario.

Toronto is home to one of the world's largest medical faculties based in a research-intensive health science complex.

Investors who are looking to develop industrial or commercial land or who want to expand or redesign an existing facility are required to apply for site plan approval and a building permit from the municipality where the development will take place.

This step-by-step Site Development Guide provides a good general overview of the process in Ontario. It was designed in partnership with the Economic Development Office of the City of Kitchener.

As some parts of this process vary according to municipality investors need to contact the Economic Development Office in question to obtain the relevant application information. For contact details of Ontario's communities click here.

Interactive Site Development Guide:

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Robust demand for industrial space continues in 2007. The national vacancy rate stood at 4.7% as of March 2007 compared to 5.1% at the close of 2006.

According to the 2006 KPMG Competitive Alternatives Study, land purchase and building construction costs for a new industrial facility are lowest in Canada.

Search for current and available industrial/commercial properties

Canada's industrial vacancy rate was 4.73 per cent in March 2007. Toronto saw a vacancy rate of 4.4 per cent for the same time period.

Industrial Rents as of March 2007  Country, City Warehouse/Distribution Space Flex/Service Space HiTech/R&D Space  CANADA (C$PSF)       Calgary 6.25 8.75 N/A       Edmonton 6.50 7.25 8.80       Halifax 6.10 8.95 13.00       Montreal 5.00 5.50 7.25       Ottawa 7.00 8.50 10.00       Toronto 5.75 8.50 9.25       Vancouver 7.00 8.00 8.50       Victoria 9.00 12.00 12.00  UNITED STATES (US$PSF)       Atlanta 3.97 8.85 8.75       Boston 5.84 9.60 8.00       Chicago 4.72 8.75 N/A       Detroit 5.25 10.00 9.50       Houston 4.70 7.82 9.55       New Jersey (Central) 5.13 10.80 14.00       Philadelphia 4.75 7.00 12.00       San Jose/Silicon Valley 5.40 N/A 12.96       St.Louis 4.00 7.50 15.00

Source: Colliers International, March 2007 (7/2007)

Search for current and available industrial/commercial properties

Search for current and available industrial/commercial properties

Brownfields redevelopment is a critical part of building strong, healthy communities. Redeveloping unused, former industrial or commercial sites will help revitalize neighbourhoods, create jobs and housing, and boost development in areas with existing transit, infrastructure and community facilities.

The Ontario government aims to promote brownfields redevelopment by providing a system that will return former industrial, commercial and institutional lands back into productive use. It has introduced the Brownfields Financial Tax Incentive Program, which allows municipalities to give tax assistance for the purposes of environmental rehabilitation of brownfields properties within an approved Community Improvement Plan (CIP).

This financing tool allocates up to $5 million annually in matching education property tax assistance for the rehabilitation of brownfields properties.

The program is part of the Province’s overall commitment to protect and maintain safe, clean, liveable communities.

For more information see 'Select Government Programs'.

Source: Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, June 2006 (6/2006)

A tax sale is the selling of a property by a municipality to recoup the unpaid property taxes. When the property tax on a piece of land goes into arrears for a period of three years, a municipality can initiate a tax sale to recover the amount of unpaid taxes.

As part of the process, the municipal treasurer is required to advertise the property in the Ontario Gazette for public sale. A list of properties advertised by municipalities for tax sale can be found at http://www.ontariogazette.gov.on.ca/.

The minimum bid that a municipality can accept is the cancellation price, which is made up of the taxes in arrears plus penalties and interest, as well as other costs incurred by the municipality in carrying out the tax sale process. The successful purchaser is the person who bids the highest.