The best cities in Canada to launch a new business?

They're on Vancouver Island, according to the Globe and Mail. Or, more specifically, in or around its southern tip.

The national newspaper has placed four Greater Victoria municipalities in the top six of its national  countdown.

View Royal snatched the top spot, with Langford in third, Colwood in fifth and Saanich rounding out the top five. The capital itself finished14th and nearby North Saanich, squeaked into the top 20 at number 19.

North Vancouver, at 12, and Kamloops at 20th were the other 2 B.C. communities to make the list.

The high placement in the countdown indicates a thriving economy, good infrastructure, networking opportunities, accessible transportation and a supportive business environment.

Based on key economic factors such as low commute times and low taxes, the ranking is one of six shared by the publication, designed to assist individuals in finding the best city based on their life stage.

The list also considered the projected population change for each location from 2024 to 2029, which could affect businesses and their owners.

The Globe and Mail collected data from 448 cities across Canada, each with a population exceeding 10,000.

The evaluation analyzed 50 variables across 10 categories identified for individuals contemplating a move: economy, housing, demographics, health care, safety, education, community, amenities, transportation and climate.