Canada's main economic hurdle is keeping technology talent, according to Mike Lazaridis, former CEO of Blackberry. "The biggest challenge as a country is retaining and recruiting the best people to build industries in Canada and not lose them to other jurisdictions."
Recent changes to U.S. immigration policies have made Canada an attractive option for high-tech immigrants. Canada has been actively recruiting skilled and educated immigrants to help build the Canadian economy and create jobs, and has launched the Global Talent Stream with fast-track visa for skilled immigrants, approved a permanent Start-Up Visa Program for Entrepreneurs, and are providing private and public funding programs to support innovation and growth.
Calgary immigration lawyer Evelyn Ackah believes Canada is a highly desirable destination for high-tech immigrants:
Our quality of life and values in Canada are very appealing to skilled immigrants and entrepreneurs who want to move to Canada. Our cost of living, education system and healthcare are excellent. I look forward to working with skilled tech immigrants from around the globe who want to move to Canada to work or build their business and help build a stronger Canada.
Digital Journal reports that Toronto submitted a bid and is on Amazon's "short-list" of sites to host its 2nd headquarters, with the potential for 50,000 new jobs (many paid at six-figure salaries), $5 billion in initial city investment, and at least eight million square feet of development. Toronto was recently named the fastest-growing tech city in North America by commercial real estate firm CBRE.
