In recent months, academics and scientists in the United States have collapsed to keep their foot on the ground by eroding quickly, in the midst of financing cups and new restrictions commissioned by Donald Trump.
But although a weakening of the American scientific community has large-scale effects on the world academic landscape, experts say that a side effect could be the best talent in the United States coming to Canada.
Already, some researchers, academics and scientists make the trip – and certain provinces and organizations in Canada seek to harvest the advantages.
“The more questions and concerns emerge in the United States, the more opportunities for Canada to try to reaffirm its leadership in the world as a global research power,” said Gabriel Miller, President and Chief Executive Officer of Universities Canada.
A dominant force in the academic world
The United States has long been a dominant force in the academic world, which houses many most popular universities in the world. But Trump began an aggressive campaign in his second term, increasingly targeting universities and scientific organizations in order to reduce public spending and move against diversity, actions and inclusion (DEI).
In recent months, the administration has reduced federal funding and limit Leading institutions communication with international counterparts. Trump has also published decrees that have led to many organizations, such as American disease control and prevention centers, removing sets of scientific data and censorship.
Most at risk are researchers whose work goes against the declared objectives of the new administration. The environmental protection agency has dismissed subsidy agreements worth $ 20 billion in the United States for clean energy and climate-friendly projects earlier this month, and Canadian researchers are applying for funding for American subsidies are now invited to confirm that their projects do not contain any “DE” elements, among other politically invoiced requests.
“It is a kind of attack to what we are used to university, academic freedom and the possibility of learning about any type of subject,” CBC News Remi Quirion, chief scientist of Quebec, told CBC.
In this context, some academics in the United States have already decided to resume their skills to the North. Jason Stanley, professor of philosophy, recently left a position at the University of Yale to join the University of Toronto, quoting a “far right regime” under Trump.
Two other Yale historians also did not the same earlier this year. Timothy Snyder and Marci Shore, who are married, are on leave of Yale and planned to start teaching lessons at the Mongk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy in the fall.
Snyder is the best -selling author of The Freedom road And On tyranny, 20 lessons from the 21st centurythe latter is about The need to resist authoritarianism when it threatens democracy.
It is not the only American experts who are considering a visit to Canada. Although there are no specific data at the moment, several members of the Canadian research community, including university and teachers, report an increased interest in scientists working or training in the United States, said Mona Nemer, chief scientific advisor of Canada.
An American crisis could be a Canadian opportunity
Earlier this month, Quebec Minister of Immigration, Jean-François Roberge, announced that the province was actively looking to recruit scientific talents in the United States which is wary of what he called “the skeptical directions of the climate that the White House takes”.
“Each crisis offers opportunities,” he said at an event organized by the Montreal Council on foreign relations.
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For researchers in this field and other targets with cuts, Canada could be an attractive alternative, Quirion said.
In Quebec in particular, academic freedom is legally guaranteed, he said. (However, this came with his own controversy, because the creation of the law was caused by a debate on the question of whether a teacher should be suspended for having said a racial insult in a lesson.)
Other provinces also seek to attract American workers. Both Manitoba And British Columbia have launched campaigns in the past two months to attract more American health care professionals.
Jennie Massey, partner of the executive research company KBRS in New Brunswick, told CBC News Earlier this month That she had received 14 requests in the morning after the inauguration of Trump. Most of them came from academics who seek to join the Canada Universities and Colleges, she said.
The challenges and reactions in justice may have made sure that the American administration reverses certain financing frosts, but the impacts on the ground last.
“If your subsidy is stopped for a few months, it is really difficult to continue to come back and keep the momentum on the research subject,” said Quirion.
“Very quickly, you lose competitiveness or you lose interest too because you do not get enough support for this research project.”
Complications to draw the talent
An ironic turn is that, while some regions seek to court more American talents, Canada has tried to reduce international students and new permanent residents.
In October, the federal government announced a reduction In immigration levels in order to relieve pressure on the housing market. As part of this plan, more than 40% of new permanent residents in 2025 will be temporary residents who are already living in Canada.
A ceiling on international students, announced last year, also triggered job cuts, lower registration And the cancellations of the program in certain post -secondary establishments due to the loss of income for the tuition fees of international students, which has an impact on their ability to acquire new teaching talents.
At the moment, Canada must invest more in tracks so that American talents come to this country, said Quirion.
The existing routes could be extended, he suggested, quoting the Research President of Excellence of Canada, which supports Canadian universities with investments of $ 10 million over seven years to attract researchers.
And the question of the management of academic freedom is always controversial in certain regions of Canada. Earlier this month, Alberta exempt post -secondary institutions Of a bill which would have forced them to obtain provincial approval before concluding agreements with the federal government, after the pressure of university organizations. And a debate currently takes place in Nova Scotia on a bill which Critics say would give the government too much control over university funding.
However, Canada has a unique opportunity right now, said Miller.
“The advantage of this moment is the recall in Canada that we should cherish our exceptional research carried out in universities and that we can take advantage of this moment to reaffirm that we are going to be leaders and that we will win in the global competition for talents.
“It’s an alarm clock, and the question is: will we hear it?”
