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New immigration program helping Canada in the global war for high-tech talent
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 who 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.” Read more…