b'IMMIGRATIONWILL CANADABE A POST-PANDEMIC SWEETHEART? By Matthew BradfordWhy the country could turn into a populardestination once COVID-19 subsidesF ew can say with certainty howCOVID-19 pandemic compared to itsneighbour to the south less attractive. Canada will fare in the monthsglobal peers. At the time of the surveyMore recently, however, changes to and years that follow thein late 2020, Canada had relatively lowthe U.S. administration and its more COVID-19 pandemic. One thingCOVID incident rates and was perceivedsuccessful COVID-19 response could give many organizational leaders canto be effectively managing the publicCanada a run for its talent.agree on, however, is that the countryshealth crisis. By contrast, harder-hit coun-economic recovery will rely on its abilitytries such as Germany and France fell inNevertheless, Goldy Hyder, president to attract foreign workers, and Canadasrankings due to a higher volume of cases.and CEO of the Business Council of reputation among foreign workers is rising.One caveat, however, is that the surveyCanada, tells Perspectives that our reputa-was taken before Canadas third wave,tion endures. Canada continues to be an In December 2020, the Boston Consultingwhich at time of print was proving moreattractive destination for foreign workers. Group (BCG) and The Networkdifficult to contain than the ones that cameWe boast a strong and healthy democracy, concluded a global survey of over 209,000before it. a world-class education system, a growing people across 190 countries. It foundeconomy with support for entrepreneur-Canada to be the top preferred destina- Quality of life also played a large role inship and innovation, and a social safety tion for foreign talent. Not only had thethe study and will undoubtedly influencenet with a range of health, social and country climbed from its number threeforeign workers beyond the pandemic.retirement benefits, he says. Added spot in the 2018 survey, it also dethronedTo that end, political unrest in the U.S.to this, we have strong labour laws and the U.S., which earned top marks in thethroughout 2020 initially made ouraccess to citizenship, and an open, multi-two previous surveys. cultural society that welcomes newcomers Several factors influenced Canadasand invests in their integration in the ranking. High among them is howlabour force and commun-well foreign talent believesities. These all form an Canada has handled theattractive package.14PERSPECTIVES Summer 2021'