H-1B visa: Canada is at it again, launching another government program to poach foreign talent from Silicon Valley

"As vicious infighting in President Donald Trump's Make America Great Again movement over the controversial H-1B visa magnifies uncertainty for foreign workers in the U.S., Canada last week approved a new fast track program to entice holders of the visa into taking their skills northward. The budget Canada passed Nov. 17 contained a provision intended to strengthen the country's "innovation ecosystem," address labor shortages and "attract top talent in healthcare, research, advanced industries and other key sectors" through "an accelerated pathway for H1-B visa holders.""

"The move followed Trump's proclamation in September imposing a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visas issued to people outside the U.S. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, three days later, in a speech in New York at the Council on Foreign Relations, said, "I understand you're changing your visa policy." Canada's Consul General for Silicon Valley and San Francisco, Rana Sarkar, told this news organization that his country was seeking to strengthen its economy and make it more self-sufficient and resilient to "global shocks.""

Canada approved a new fast-track program to attract H-1B visa holders, aiming to strengthen its innovation ecosystem, address labor shortages and attract top talent in healthcare, research and advanced industries. The provision was included in the Nov. 17 budget and promised rollout in the coming months. The move followed U.S. changes including a $100,000 fee for new H‑1B visas issued abroad and heightened political controversy over the visa in the U.S. tech sector. Canadian officials framed the program as a measure to boost economic resilience and self-sufficiency and to entice skilled workers amid U.S. visa uncertainty.

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