Canada: The Plausible Silicon Valley Contender

You all might have heard Canada’s rising interest in the tech sector and how several provinces, including Toronto, have been recognized for that potential.

This holds true for the country and we have to understand that Canada is not only about Drake, Bieber, Niagara Falls, or a multicultural mecca, but much more. Giants like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Netflix, to name a few have looked towards the Canadian landscape and have been setting up hubs and expansion of operations in Toronto. The city has the most unicorn start-ups outside of Silicon Valley which just shows Canada’s outlook towards innovation and economic growth. Ottawa, Vancouver, Montreal, Waterloo region, Calgary et cetera besides Toronto have also been luring top tech talent. Visa pathways like Express Entry, Start-Up Visa, Global Talent Stream (GTS), and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) have are channels for inviting foreign tech talent and also enabling Canadian employers to access their skill set.

In the years to come, Canada could become home to the next Silicon Valley and many companies in the US are extending their reach within the country because of the potential. The ability and openness of Canada to welcome people hasn’t gone unnoticed, which is why more and more people are being open to either shifting their business or expanding their influence.

With their presence in Canada, opportunities are being provided to local talent like students and people of other backgrounds with specific skills, the companies want. One of the examples which echo this is Ross. Headquartered in Iroquois, Ontario, Ross Video operates an R&D facility in Ottawa, Ontario, and office locations in New York State, United Kingdom, Australia, and Singapore. It specializes in designs, manufactures, and supports a wide range of innovative products for use in live production applications. The company indoctrinates students through co-op programs for 4-8 months, eventually hiring them after graduation.

Because of Canada’s program flexibility, companies are using the services of law firms to smoothly transition their operations to Canada and it is only growing exponentially. Adding further, companies like Ribbon Communications are also benefitting from the Global Talent Stream (GTS) as the program enables the facilitation of teams and hire experienced people. The commitment options of “giving to Canada” in the programs align with business strategy and promotes growth, according to Paula Holwell, the Director of Engineering at Ribbon Communications.

With the Immigration Levels Plan 2021-2023 set in place, more companies with potential will be able to fill the tech hubs, leading to the recruitment of like-minded people from all across the globe.