Many US workers are considering migrating to Canada due to its welcoming immigration measures, which aim to address labour shortages. In July, Canada launched a pilot program allowing 10,000 H-1B visa holders to apply for a three-year open work permit. The program reached its cap within 48 hours, and 6,000 US foreign workers have migrated since then. The move can be attributed to restrictions faced by H-1B holders and their families in the US. Many skilled workers, particularly in tech, were laid off during the “US Tech Wreck,” leading them to seek opportunities in Canada. Canada’s former Immigration Minister Sean Fraser saw this as an opportunity to fill Canada’s STEM shortage, leading to the launch of the Tech Talent Strategy at Collision 2023.
