The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday edition that Canada seems to do a lot to foster innovation and productivity through federal programs. Guest columnist Gerald Roe Patchell writes, however, that these efforts are not sufficient because our talent has already left the dormitory for high-paying jobs at the likes of Amazon and Google. The reason for the exodus is simple -- money, plus there are greater career opportunities. All this was laid out in a University of Waterloo software engineering graduate survey (2020) that showed 84 per cent headed south, with compensation the leading concern for 89 per cent of graduates. Mr. Patchell argues that Canada should pay tech graduates to stay. Just as companies are given tax breaks, grants, training and infrastructure support, give Canada's tech graduates tax breaks, grants, housing and better health care. Perhaps they will stick around. What will happen when Canadian companies retain the best talent that Canada produces? Silicon Valley's fabled "10x" engineers are individuals whose creativity produces more value than 10 other engineers. Many of them are Canadian, and our companies and entrepreneurs would be a lot more innovative and productive if that talent stayed put.
© 2025 Canjex Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.