Prime Minister Stephen Harper has declared an official end to Canada’s “brain drain” trend, which had been of large concern to policymakers since the 1990s.
The P.M.’s announcement came in response to a recent article in the Washington-based journal Chronicle of Higher Education which stated that Canada is no longer losing its highly trained professionals to higher paying positions in the United States. In fact, there now appears to be a “brain gain” as more skilled and trained people enter the country.
“Today, amid intensifying global competition for the best and brightest, Canada is on a roll, importing research stars and nurturing young Canadian and foreign scholars and postdoctoral students,” said the article.
Harper echoed these sentiments this month while announcing new government scholarship funds aimed at attracting graduate students to Canadian universities.
“By attracting and retaining the world’s best doctoral students, we are building a culture of innovation and high achievement right here in Canada,” said Harper. “This in turn will strengthen our economy and our society, creating jobs and prosperity across the country for years to come. And it will add momentum to our country’s increasing strength and ambition.”
Harper also stressed the positive impact foreign scholars have on the country.
“Research leads to discoveries and inventions that leads to patents that build Canadian businesses and create Canadian jobs and that makes for greater prosperity for Canadian families and workers.”
Source: National Post