Canada Launches $1.7B Plan to Attract H-1B Talent Amid Tightening U.S. Immigration

The Canadian government has announced a large-scale initiative aimed at attracting highly skilled professionals from abroad, especially those who hold — or previously held — the well-known U.S. H-1B work visa. The move reflects the rapid shifts taking place in immigration and scientific research policies between Canada and the United States.

The initiative includes an investment of 1.7 billion Canadian dollars over ten years to boost salaries, infrastructure, and research grants, with the goal of hiring more than 1,000 scientists, researchers, and physicians in advanced fields facing workforce shortages, according to Newsweek.

Although the announcement did not explicitly mention the United States, its timing and scale clearly signal Canada’s desire to attract talent who may be reconsidering their professional future due to increasingly restrictive U.S. immigration policies. Last September, the Trump administration imposed a fee of $100,000 on applicants selected for the H-1B visa lottery, a visa heavily relied upon by American tech and research companies when no qualified U.S. worker is available.

The Canadian government said its universities and research institutions are under mounting pressure in terms of funding and resources, noting that the rapid changes in U.S. policies create a “real opportunity” to redirect top talent toward Canada. The new plan promises to expand postdoctoral positions, speed up visa processing for PhD-holding researchers and their families, and dedicate more resources to recognizing foreign credentials. It will also provide special funding for universities to intensify international recruitment in critical fields.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, speaking at the “Global Progressive Mobility Summit” in the U.K., stated that his country aims to seize the moment as the United States becomes less able to attract enough skilled workers. “Many people who used to obtain the H-1B visa in America are now far less able to do so,” he said. “This is an opportunity for Canada, and we will offer them a clear and competitive path.”

Working in Canada is seen as a strategic step for many international professionals, as Canadian work experience earns them extra points in economic immigration programs leading to permanent residency. Canada joins a group of countries — including some European nations and China — that are leveraging stricter U.S. policies to strengthen their research capacity and attract science and technology experts who face weakened support and funding in the United States.

Individual cases reinforce this trend: Canadian astrophysicist Sara Seager, a professor at MIT, announced she will leave the United States to join the University of Toronto, citing “uncertainty” in U.S. scientific funding. Canada’s Minister of Industry Mélanie Joly emphasized that the country is “doubling its investment in science while others are pulling back,” stressing that these measures will attract “the best minds” to Canada.

University of Toronto President Meric Gertler said the moment represents “a full Canadian strategy” to capitalize on the current global competition for talent. Meanwhile, Health Minister Marjorie Mitchell described the major investment as a tool for attracting top research professionals in healthcare, serving Canada’s economy and scientific capabilities long-term.

Despite the momentum behind the announcement, the central question remains: How will international talent — especially H-1B holders — respond to Canada’s new offers? As U.S. policies continue to tighten, Canada may be facing a historic opportunity to reshape global talent flows in the coming years.