Ottawa is an excellent candidate for this as it sits squarely on the Canadian Shield.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Shield

Not only that but the public transit is undergoing rapid modernization (ie: light rail) and the software industry is spiking.

All the top students from uOttawa and Carleton end up going to Silicon Valley or Seattle anyways. A few go to Toronto. What's left in Ottawa are largely mediocre government employees. On top of that, you're going to have a tough time convincing people to move somewhere with -40 degree winters.

>you're going to have a tough time convincing people to move somewhere with -40 degree winters.

But there's all that sweet, sweet Rideau Canal beer and poutine.

Aside from that, Ottawa is home to a [small, but] thriving startup and tech community. Prices as compared to SV or Vancouver or Toronto would be lower, while quality of life remains high. Even if it's less exciting. I don't think it's a terrible suggestion. (And I'm saying that from Toronto!)

Ottawa doesn't have more than 1 million people though. [0]

Ottawa city limits are already huge, so I can't imagine what else qualifies as the "metro area" Kingston perhaps? Or they're counting Gatineau as a separate city but within the metro area?

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottawa