A U.S. increasingly hostile to immigration, as well as escalating living costs, have prompted an exodus of Indian technology workers to Canada, where open tech positions are forecast to reach 200,000 by 2020. Key destinations include Toronto, which plays host to artificial intelligence (AI) development efforts, along with startups like the popular Wattpad storytelling platform. Other attractive Canadian AI centers include Ottawa, home to the Shopify e-commerce platform, and Montreal, where the deep learning Element AI laboratory is located. To become more competitive in emerging tech industries, Canada has modified its permanent and temporary immigrant programs, with tech-skilled applicants in the former program receiving additional perks. The number of Indian nationals applying for permanent Canadian residency boomed between 2016 and 2017—up by 83% for those entering under a federal skills program, 122% for those selected by provinces to fill specific vacancies, and 538% for those who entered based on work experience.

economist.com