e d i t o r i a l
3
Canada holds different type of Trump card in tech recruitment electronic products andtechnology technology electronic products and Volume 39 Number 1
January-February 2017
Stephen Law Editor 416.510.5208 slaw@ept.ca
Sohail Kamal
West Coast Correspondent sohail@nextgear.ca
This past November, after America’s electoral process determined that Donald Trump would be the next president of the United States, nervousness swept through tech villages across America. None bigger than Silicon Valley, stationed and acutely aware of the in-coming president’ ideals. On the flipside, north of the 49th parallel, Canada’s technology sector sees this as a potential competitive edge in the ongoing battle for high-skilled talent. Ultimately, time will tell, but some senior executives at some of America’s top tech company’s earmarked Trump selection as ‘a disaster for innovation.’ About 250,000 Canadians work in Silicon Valley. Meanwhile, Southern Ontario has by now developed a critical mass of talent and funding for tech start-ups. The Trump election has emboldened tech recruiters in Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver and Kitchener-Waterloo to start reversing the brain drain to California by luring Canucks to come home. Analysts are not predicting a mass exodus from the U.S. by Canadians in tech jobs returning home, but some feel that U.S. policy changes could prompt Canadian startups to think twice about chasing their dreams down south. At the very least that trend shouldn’t stop and it may accelerate for Canada, given that we’re one of the few countries in the world where you can bring talent and openness and
inclusivity and diversity in the workplace. The Brookfield Institute’s report on the state of our own tech sector shows that Canada’s 71,000 tech companies are responsible for more than 7% of the economic output and 5.6% of Canada’s total employment—even more than the US. This only emphasizes the importance of tech here and proves that we are truly a nation of innovators. Based on the pragmatic nature of Canadians, maybe it is wise for us to take a wait-and-see approach and let's see what Trump actually does in the first six months in office. The main concern seems to be the instability and unpredictability of it all. At the same time, it serves as an opportunity for Canada to really and truly showcase what is going on here. So, as America’s tech sector sits nervously awaiting the impact of its presidential result, Canada clearly appears to sit in the driver’s seat when it comes to procuring high tech talent from some of the most relevant resources in the world – including Silicon Valley to Bangalore – Canada is clearly holding a different kind of ‘Trump’ card. Stephen Law, Editor slaw@ept.ca @EPTmagazine
Joanna Malivoire
Peter Loney
Account Manager Direct: 866.868.7089 jmalivoire@ept.ca
Publisher 416.510.5207 pdloney@ept.ca
Delivering TE Connectivity Products to your Market. Tracy Lelyk
Art Director Operations Coordinator 416.510.5120 tlelyk@ept.ca
Anita Madden
Circulation Manager 416.442.5600 ext 3596 amadden@annexnewcom.ca
Bona Lao
Subscription Inquiries 416.442.5600 ext 3552 blao@annexnewcom.ca
Tracey Hanson
Account Coordinator 416.510.6762 thanson@annexnewcom.ca
Tim Dimopoulos
Executive Publisher
EP&T (Electronic Products & Technology) is published nine times per year: Monthly in February, May, August, September, October, Bi-Monthly January/February, March/April, June/July, November/December by:
RIGHT PRODUCTS. RIGHT PRICE. RIGHT NOW. COVERING MAJOR MARKETS
Annex Business Media 80 Valleybrook Drive, Toronto ON M3B 2S9 info@ept.ca Website: www.ept.ca Tel: 416.442.5600 Fax: 416.510.5134 Sales: 416.510.5207 • Editorial 416.510.5208
Transportation
Industrial
Medical
Energy
Agriculture
Communications
Military & Defense
Oil & Gas
HVAC
Aerospace
ISSN 0708-4366 (Print) • ISSN 1923-3701 (Online)
Subscription Rates: Canada: $56.00 per year, US: $98.00 per year, International: USD$134.00 per year, Single copy: $15 (Canada); $20 (all others) Editorial Purpose: Electronic Products & Technology provides timely, comprehensive coverage of the latest worldwide developments and trends in electronic products, equipment and systems, and interprets their significance to manufacturers and end-users in the Canadian marketplace. Publications Mail Agreement No. 40065710 Canada Post: Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: EP&T Circulation Dept., 80 Valleybrook Drive, Toronto, ON M3B 2S9, Subscription Inquiries: 416.442.5600 x3548 • circulation@ept.ca EP&T (Electronic Products & Technology) assumes no responsibility for the validity of claims in items reported.
© 2017 This publication or any part of it may not be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form whatsoever without the express written consent of the publisher. From time to time we make our subscription list available to companies and organizations whose products and services we believe may be of interest to you. If you do not want your name to be made available, please contact EP&T with your subscription number.
DON'T MISS OUT - STAY CON N E CTE D * @ E - SO N I C. CO M / S UB S CRI B E *Opt-in before July 1st to stay informed.
Printed in Canada
We acknowledge the [financial] support of the Government of Canada.
e-sonic.com | 1-800-56-SONIC
http://ept.hotims.com/65985-2
ROB_pg2-4_JanFeb17.indd 2
2016-12-21 3:56 PM