New immigration program helping Canada in the global war for high-tech talent

[Tennis]

A pilot program that makes it easier for highly skilled foreign tech workers to find jobs in Canada has hooked more than 1,600 people in its first two and a half months, CBC News has learned.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada launched the two-year project in June to help companies that need to bring in talent quickly so their businesses can expand.

The Global Skills Strategy cuts the amount of time a foreign worker needs to wait for a work permit, with decisions being made within two weeks instead of months. The program also makes it easier for their immediate family members to enter the country.

"The feedback from the private sector has been very positive," said Navdeep Bains, minister of innovation, science and economic development.

More than 2,000 people have already applied so far — meaning about 80 per cent of the applications to the program have been fast tracked.

Some applicants appear to be lured to Canada as they are second-guessing moving to the United States because of the political climate.

Petra Axolotl, a former Twitter employee, used the program to move to Canada from Singapore this summer. Canada wasn't her first choice of destinations, but she decided to leave Singapore because that country doesn't recognize her same-sex partner.

"The plan was to move back to the U.S. after my stay in Singapore," she said. "But one thing that happened was Donald Trump became president. He always says 'Make America great again,' but I think he's making Canada pretty great."

Axolotl said it took about 10 days to get her application approved.

"The process itself was quite easy," she said. The data scientist, who works for a small high-tech company in Toronto called Platterz, has already been granted permanent resident status.

Over the past decade there has been an overall increase in tech sector immigration. According to data provided to the CBC, the trend appears set to continue.

Last year, 8,785 tech workers immigrated to Canada. For the first eight months of 2017 the number is at 6,940 — that's nearly 80 per cent of last year's total already.

Experts stress that it's difficult to mark a trend with partial data for 2017. But Walid Hejazi, associate professor of business with the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management, said the numbers look promising.

"A lot of these really high-tech workers are coming to Canada because the U.S. is no longer a viable option," he said. "That's part of the story."
'Immigration advantage'

Last week, Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen said Canada is in a position to leverage a so-called "immigration advantage," saying there are "more and more countries that are closing their doors to people, they are closing their doors to talent and to skills."

Canada will take the opposite approach, Hussen said.

The Global Skills Strategy is just one tool to attract top tech talent to Canada and compete against the beast that is Silicon Valley. Toronto recruiter Jodi Katz says in the past it's been a real battle but the current climate is changing that.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/immi...tegy-1.4391409

Thought this was pretty neat. When there's a lot of biased stories regarding immigration out there, it's good to see it as it is. A way for countries to grow and improve.

[Kalis]

Not many people give a toss about high skilled immigrants coming in their hundreds, rather it is the ones that bring no discernible benefit to the country and create cultural clashes coming in their tens of thousands, which most people are pissed off with.

As far as I am concerned, some minicab drivers in exchange for thousands of children being raped was not really a great trade off. Hopefully Canada will not make that same mistake and will continue their strict immigration policy.

[Tennis]

Not many people give a toss about high skilled immigrants coming in their hundreds, rather it is the ones that bring no discernible benefit to the country and create cultural clashes coming in their tens of thousands, which most people are pissed off with.

As far as I am concerned, some minicab drivers in exchange for thousands of children being raped was not really a great trade off. Hopefully Canada will not make that same mistake and will continue their strict immigration policy.

That's not how it works bruv. High skill immigrants come then they sponsor their family through family reunification. You can't have one without the other.

[Kalis]

That's not how it works bruv. High skill immigrants come then they sponsor their family through family reunification. You can't have one without the other.

We weren’t getting the high skilled ones in Britain, there didn’t seem to be any requirements, so we ended up getting people that aren’t suited to life in Britain and we are paying the price for it.

[AkundaMrdal]

I like Canadian approach. In Europe we should send all these millions of low skilled leeches back to their homelands and then cherry pick few thousands of high skilled immigrants and start lecturing others about how is immigration beneficial.

[Venant]

Why can't first world countries generate their own high tech talent? Could it be that it is because this 'foreign talent' is cheaper, and is a way by which you screw over people who are already in your country who have to invest far more money into gaining those skills? Why is it right for a country to do this to people who have already invested so much into their own society?

[Reinhard von Lohengramm]

We weren’t getting the high skilled ones in Britain, there didn’t seem to be any requirements, so we ended up getting people that aren’t suited to life in Britain and we are paying the price for it.

Don't bother, Kalis.

Everywhere is like Canada, with the same exact rules and regulations (unless we're talking the U.S.A.) and immigration guidelines, etc... but you wished you lived in Canada anyway.

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Why can't first world countries generate their own high tech talent? Could it be that it is because this 'foreign talent' is cheaper, and is a way by which you screw over people who are already in your country who have to invest far more money into gaining those skills? Why is it right for a country to do this to people who have already invested so much into their own society?

Times of plenty lead to times of lazy.
People in less well off places need to worker harder for what they have, and start working at it earlier.
Then they come for cheaper, and to the business, it's all about the bottom line.

[cuafpr]

So, high skilled comes in legally, does the required paperwork / whatever... then brings over family via sponsorship. i'm doubtful many would care about this if that was the system in place vs the let in everyone system people seem to demand/want.

[XDurionX]

Marriage, Fat-Shaming, Canada. I've got a Tennbingo!

[Draco-Onis]

So, high skilled comes in legally, does the required paperwork / whatever... then brings over family via sponsorship. i'm doubtful many would care about this if that was the system in place vs the let in everyone system people seem to demand/want.

I am not sure what alternate reality version of the left you follow but your statement is akin to saying everyone on the right hates brown people.

[Vapo]

Canada is kinda in unique spot with their immigration as all refugees or whatnot have to actually cross either US or an ocean to arrive there... so you can cherry pick whatever kind of immigrants you fly in... unlike Europe / middle-east right now where there are millions upon millions of low to no education refugees that are seeking for asylum. Maybe get off your high horse and take in 200,000 unskilled "immigrants" that will not benefit your society for generations.

[Chinese Bootlickers]

Odd Tenn skipped right passed the topic on the Canadian Prime Minister having ties to the Paradise Papers.

It's physically impossible for Tennis to report to us of anything ill about glorious leader and god-emperor Trudeu.

Canada is kinda in unique spot with their immigration as all refugees or whatnot have to actually cross either US or an ocean to arrive there... so you can cherry pick whatever kind of immigrants you fly in... unlike Europe / middle-east right now where there are millions upon millions of low to no education refugees that are seeking for asylum. Maybe get off your high horse and take in 200,000 unskilled "immigrants" that will not benefit your society for generations.

Don't you know Canada is leading the pack on the immigration crisis? They've taken in a mind boggling 11 immigrants, up from 9 last year!

[Baelic]

Canada is kinda in unique spot with their immigration as all refugees or whatnot have to actually cross either US or an ocean to arrive there... so you can cherry pick whatever kind of immigrants you fly in... unlike Europe / middle-east right now where there are millions upon millions of low to no education refugees that are seeking for asylum. Maybe get off your high horse and take in 200,000 unskilled "immigrants" that will not benefit your society for generations.

Fun fact(s):It hasn't stopped people from trying. Though not nearly on the same scale and it happens to be in decline due to a good ground-game by Canadian officials.

[Daelak]

Why can't first world countries generate their own high tech talent? Could it be that it is because this 'foreign talent' is cheaper, and is a way by which you screw over people who are already in your country who have to invest far more money into gaining those skills? Why is it right for a country to do this to people who have already invested so much into their own society?

They do, but since developed nations also drain poorer, undeveloped nations' best talent via open borders, political stability, world's best schools and universities, and high taxation to ensure infrastructure and society are built to let them prosper. It's a win/win. Relying on your domestic population is a lose/lose and should be in the dustbin of history.

[Daedius]

Think most people more than welcome qualified people who are actually immigrating for work... it's the leeches that go straight to welfare that annoy people.

[Molis]

Too bad you could not find a house at a fair price in any of the "nicer" areas.

Hey I overpaid for my house in California, but at least it isn't zero degrees in December.

[PC2]

Giving preferential treatment to elite immigrants is a good policy. Canada can't be faulted for that.

[Daelak]

Think most people more than welcome qualified people who are actually immigrating for work... it's the leeches that go straight to welfare that annoy people.

Which is exceedingly rare or a dysfunction in our own economy where private employers can pay substandard wages and let the welfare system pick up the tab.

[PC2]

Which is exceedingly rare or a dysfunction in our own economy where private employers can pay substandard wages and let the welfare system pick up the tab.

The fact that low skill welfare migration is rare means the system is working.

[Daelak]

The fact that low skill welfare migration is rare means the system is working.

The primary users of welfare are actual US citizens, so that is a separate issue in and of itself, but yeah I have never in my experience in construction known my crews to be on welfare, ever, no matter how bad the economy is.