Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is actively seeking new strategies to attract the world’s brightest minds. High-skilled workers trying to enter the United States may soon find themselves with few if any options. In turn, Canadian officials are looking to capitalize on the moment and lure these talented people.
An Opportunity For Making Wealth
Prime Minister Mark Carney is keen to tout how welcoming talented people are. Many of them were purposely shoved aside due to the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
In 2019, Canadians constituted just 1% of all H-1B applicants, per U.S. data. With the new programs brought in by Canada, there just might be a special chance for those who’ve been historically left behind. There are thousands of qualified professionals in Canada who are having a hard time finding a way to settle here permanently. This confusion has put their future status in limbo. This uncertainty has led to some positive discussions about how Canada can be a more desirable destination for these skilled professionals.
Employers already have multiple avenues to bring skilled workers into Canada, according to Matthew Krupovich, an IRCC spokesperson. Among these are the Express Entry program, which helps bring skilled workers into Canada, and the Global Skills Strategy program. Earlier this year, the Canadian government announced one such program that should have U.S.-based H-1B holders very excited. This program gives them the opportunity to receive a three-year work permit in Canada.
Mark Holthe, an immigration attorney based in Calgary, noticed a number of his clients have already moved up north. They took the leap after struggling to transition their H-1Bs into permanent residency. More than ever, talented professionals are exploring their options to move to Canada. This change is taking place against the backdrop of a transformational change in U.S. immigration policy.
Evan Green, an immigration lawyer based in Canada, emphasized the potential for the Canadian government to leverage this moment effectively. He stated, “This is a wonderful opportunity for the Canadian government to take advantage of.”
Not all experts are convinced that Canada can waltz in and scoop up all this talent. Mikal Skuterud, a University of Waterloo professor in Ontario, said Canada still has a long way to go. These reforms are necessary to draw many more of the world’s most talented workers to this country. He remarked, “There is a potential for Canada for sure, but I think we shouldn’t overstate what that potential is.” He further added that “Canada does not look much more predictable than the US,” highlighting concerns about the current immigration landscape.
Canada, for one, is undergoing a reassessment of where its immigration policy has gone. It has come under fire for slashing overall immigration levels in recent years. The political debate over the temporary foreign worker program is getting very intense. The Conservative opposition continues to call for its scrapping and a greater emphasis on hiring Canadians first.
A 2020 study for the National Bureau of Economic Research indicated that U.S.-based multinational companies facing restrictions on skilled worker immigration have increasingly turned to countries like India, China, and Canada to retain talent. The research made clear that firms overwhelmingly hired the same skilled immigrants that they first intended to bring to the U.S. Now, they’re luring those same workers to Canada instead.
The overall demand for Canadian work permits has quadrupled. One recently popular program proved this point by capping applications just 24 hours after opening once 10,000 people signed up. As interest in Canada’s immigration programs grows, officials are left to ponder how best to manage this influx while ensuring that the country’s own workforce remains a priority.