Canada launched 1.2 billion USD to attract talent when the US tightened immigration

The Government of Canada announced this week that the investment will be used over 12 years to recruit and support more than 1,000 people to participate in pioneering research activities in many key areas, including medicine and science.

“While some countries limit academic freedom and undermine research in key industries, Canada is increasing its investment in science,” said Canadian Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Melanie Joly.

She emphasized that the $1.2 billion investment will ensure Canada’s leading role in creativity and innovation, thereby creating a foundation for long-term prosperity.

Although the US is not named, the program is considered a move to attract Canadian talent to take advantage of the neighboring country’s tightening immigration policies.

US President Donald Trump in September signed an executive order requiring a fee of 100,000 USD for new H-1B visa applications from foreign workers with the goal of promoting businesses to recruit domestic workers. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) later explained that this fee applies to applications submitted from September 21 for those who have never held an H-1B visa.

Analysts say the new regulations may support domestic recruitment in some industries, but are likely to have a negative impact on sectors that rely heavily on international labor, especially the health sector, which is facing a shortage of human resources.

Canada also has a severe shortage of doctors, leaving millions without access to family doctor services and long emergency room wait times. To fix this, Ottawa announced a fast-track permanent residency roadmap for foreign doctors with at least one year of work experience in Canada. Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said this special mechanism, along with quotas for localities, can keep doctors in Canada to practice.

At the same time, Canada is stepping up to attract academic research talent from the US. Minister Joly said the new funding will fund 100 research positions, not just for leading scientists but for their entire research teams and laboratories. The top priority is to bring back Canadian researchers from abroad, while creating a stable environment for international experts who want to settle permanently.

Some Canadian universities have recorded initial positive results. The University of Toronto announced that it has recruited many top researchers from facilities in the US, considering this a “big win for Canada”. Large hospitals and research institutes are also actively recruiting directly in the US, including plans to attract hundreds of scientists.

However, experts warn that retaining talent long-term is not easy, if the attraction policy does not include development opportunities in the private sector.

A report from the Canadian Citizenship Institute shows that one in five immigrants leave Canada within 25 years, and that groups with doctorates leave at nearly twice the rate of those with bachelor’s degrees. Ottawa officials acknowledge this challenge and consider the new investment package an important step to turn “brain drain” into “brain gain” in a sustainable way.