On October 29, BHER CEO Val Walker and Chief R&D Officer Matthew McKean appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration to inform its study on attracting and empowering global talent to strengthen Canada’s economy.
They brought three recommendations to the Committee:
- Plan for talent alongside major investments. Project-level talent plans should identify the skills needed, where and when they will be needed, what Canadian training and workforce mobility can supply, and where international recruitment will be essential.
- Help people already here put their skills to work. Align competency assessments and bridging requirements across provinces and regulators, while protecting professional standards. Qualified newcomers should be able to work in their professions sooner.
- Retain the talent we attract and develop. Connect international students with employers during their studies, provide predictable pathways for graduates and researchers, and examine the barriers to retaining experienced leaders.
Canada cannot deliver on its industrial ambitions without an equally ambitious talent strategy. Talent is national infrastructure, so we need to plan for it that way.
These priorities also inform BHER’s ongoing work with industry and post-secondary leaders through our Leadership Tables in AI, energy, health, and national security.