The group that is leading the charge trying to bring Amazon to town has submitted its bid to the tech-giant on why it should set up shop in Montreal.
CEO of Montreal International Hubert Bolduc delivered the bid personally to Amazon offices in Seattle on Saturday, according to a statement from the private-public, non-profit organization.
“The whole team stepped up its efforts in the past few weeks to highlight all the know-how and creativity Greater Montréal has to offer,” Bolduc said in a statement. "The city is one of the most tech-forward in the world and that is attractive to Amazon, one of the most innovative companies in the 21st century
The bid touted Montreal's tech-industry bonafides, as well as its stockpile of young talent. According to Montreal International, Quebec's largest city has the highest concentration of tech sector jobs among any city in Canada.
Montreal is also not Toronto, something the bid was sure to point out. In comparing housing costs for young professionals in Montreal and Toronto, Montreal International told Amazon it was 25 per cent cheaper for its talent pool to live here versus in Toronto.
Amazon is looking for a city to house what it is calling HQ2. The tech giant is promising 50,000 high-paying jobs and a $5-billion US investment to the city that it chooses to be home to its second headquarters.