Ottawa urged to address skills shortage

CIC News
Published: May 1, 2001

OTTAWA -- Canada's technology industry wants the federal government to spend at least $500-million to boost the pool of skilled graduates who are considered key to attracting -- and keeping -- the industry's high-growth companies.

eMPOWR, a lobby group that includes representatives from tech companies and universities, says Ottawa should spend $100-million a year over the next five years on professors, labs and research projects so that Canada can produce more graduates in such areas as photonics, wireless technology and micro-electronics.

In the industry's latest attempt to highlight Canada's skills shortage, the group said universities produce less than one-third of the people the industry needs. The Information Technology Association of Canada estimates there are 35,000 unfilled jobs in the technology industry. Meanwhile, about 25 per cent of the 350 Canadian professors in these key fields are scheduled to retire by 2005.

Analysts say the availability of highly skilled workers is widely considered the key ingredient in trying to attract or nurture technology companies, but Canada -- like its competitors -- faces a dire skills shortage.

Kirk Mandy, vice-chairman of Ottawa-based Mitel Corp., said the impact of Canada's brain drain will only get worse if universities aren't given the resources to produce more graduates.

"That will certainly pose a difficulty for high-tech companies like Mitel Corp.," he said yesterday during a press conference in Ottawa. "But it will be a tragedy for Canada."

Jim Roche, president of Ottawa-based Tundra Semiconductor Corp. and eMPOWR's chairman, said the money would be an excellent investment for taxpayers because it would allow a high-growth sector to expand and create jobs.

Both executives said their companies have reduced significantly the percentage of research they do in Canada, largely because of a lack of trained people.

Keith Parsonage, director-general of Industry Canada's branch for the sector, said the government has taken no new positions on the issues raised by the lobby group, but that he doesn't disagree with any of its suggestions. "It's very difficult for the government to disagree with any of their proposals."

Creating more graduates is the most important of three planks in the industry's efforts to boost Canada's pool of skilled workers. The industry, along with the federal government, also has been trying to shave the skills shortage by developing retraining programs and lowering barriers for potential immigrants who have skills that are in demand.

Mr. Parsonage said the federal government has been working with the technology industry to try to find solutions to the skills shortage for about two years.

The government has improved the environment for technology companies in recent years by reducing income and corporate taxes and creating a new tax structure for stock options, a common method of compensation within the tech sector.

Share this article
Share your voice
Did you find this article helpful?
Thank you for your feedback.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Did you find this article helpful?
Please provide a response
Thank you for your helpful feedback
Please contact us if you would like to share additional feedback, have a question, or would like Canadian immigration assistance.
  • Do you need Canadian immigration assistance? Contact the Contact Cohen Immigration Law firm by completing our form
  • Send us your feedback or your non-legal assistance questions by emailing us at media@canadavisa.com
Top Stories
IRCC’s application backlog shows steady increase over the summer
New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot: Who are the employers and what positions do they hire for?
IRCC issues 500 ITAs to Canadian Experience Class candidates in second Express Entry draw this week
Join our free newsletter. Get Canada's top immigration stories delivered to your inbox.
Subscribe
More in Express Entry
IRCC issues 500 ITAs to Canadian Experience Class candidates in second Express Entry draw this week
Rural road with fall foliage
October 2024: State of the Express Entry pool
A group of people walking through a popular square in Canada.
How many ITAs has Canada issued through Express Entry this year vs. last year?
A view of a mountain through fall leaves.
IRCC issues 4,000 ITAs to Canadian Experience Class candidates in latest Express Entry draw
A view of a river in Canada during a summer day, with kayaks and canoes making their way through.
Link copied to clipboard