The Vancouver Business Thread

[spm2013]

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[csbvan]

Another VFX company moves into Vancouver, potential for a total of 450 employees:

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/tec...firm+makes+Vancouver/10372293/story.html

Also, this helps to illustrate why it is important to have the cheaper light-industrial space in Mount Pleasant.

[LeftCoaster]

Originally Posted by s211

Again, my question for Leftcoaster is what is this person's source?

According to this Septmember news story, 80% of new jobs in the past 12 months were created in Alberta:

http://globalnews.ca/news/1559263/40-of-all-new-jobs-in-canada-last-year-generated-in-edmonton/

Sorry have been on vacation since I posted that.

The numbers come straight from Statscan as well as the Conference Board of Canada. They are solid.

Keep in mind these numbers are metropolitan, so while Vancouver has posted scores more jobs than Calgary of Edmonton, the majority of Alberta's job growth has been in the oil patch, so their provincial numbers still dwarf BCs provincial numbers.

[Klazu]

The new and large Flight Center is open at Dunsmuir and Howe. It looks good with some red LED lighting.

[DesignerBunny]

A very compact, but pretty Rocky Mountain Soap company has opened in the underground Bentall Centre mall.

[GMasterAres]

Originally Posted by s211

Again, my question for Leftcoaster is what is this person's source?

According to this Septmember news story, 80% of new jobs in the past 12 months were created in Alberta:

http://globalnews.ca/news/1559263/40-of-all-new-jobs-in-canada-last-year-generated-in-edmonton/

My only thought is that the Global article is pulling from statistics of companies in Edmonton whereas the other source is pulling actual jobs _in_ Edmonton.

Alberta != Edmonton so you could have a company in Edmonton hire 40% of people in all of Canada but those people are actually working out on the oil-sands and in Fort McMurray and such. Their jobs then technically don't count as _in_ Edmonton but rather fall into "Alberta" as a whole. As an example, my cousin works for an oil company that is based in Edmonton but he is in China most of the year and when not, is actually in a Calgary office. So does his job count as being Calgary, Edmonton, Alberta, or China? That's the issue with these types of stats especially in Alberta these days.

Only way I could explain, other than mistaken numbers, the statistics seemingly being contradictory.

You're right, we'd need to know the source of the numbers.

[Klazu]

Microsoft has been able to strike quite an unique deal with the federal government...

CBC: Microsoft gets green light from Ottawa for foreign trainees

The federal government has granted an exemption to Microsoft Canada that will allow the company to bring in an unspecified number of temporary foreign workers to British Columbia as trainees without first looking for Canadians to fill the jobs.

A notice posted on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website says foreign workers will receive specialized training in a new human resources development centre in the province. The tech giant will not have to perform a labour market impact assessment (LMIA) — a rigorous process that would include a search for Canadians who could fill the positions.

The exemption was granted under a provincial-federal agreement that gives a pass to companies that gain provincial approval.

The Canadian government argues the arrangement is the result of a significant investment by Microsoft that will create jobs for Canadians as well at a new 400-person training centre.

Nevertheless, some legal observers say the decision appears at odds with the government's promise to crack down on abuse in the system in order to protect Canadian jobs.

"There is certainly no justification that I can see that would support granting an exemption to a large number of foreign workers to come into Canada to take away jobs that could easily filled by Canadians," said Toronto immigration lawyer Lorne Waldman.

"On the one hand, the government is telling us they are protecting Canadian jobs; on the other hand they're signing agreements with big corporations in which they're allowing them to bring in foreign workers."
Two-year work permits

The government notice says the new training and development centre will focus on "software and engineering." The centre will add 400 jobs that will "include paid internships for Canadian students and long-term employees," as well as "bring international employees into 18-month rotational training positions."

The notice also says foreign workers will be given 24-month work permits to allow them to stay in Canada "until they are transitioned by Microsoft into a new position elsewhere."

A source familiar with the LMIA process says he's flabbergasted the government would allow the exemption, since it gives Microsoft a significant competitive advantage.

Story continues here...

[s211]

Originally Posted by Klazu

Microsoft has been able to strike quite an unique deal with the federal government...

Over the past several years, Microsoft's Canadian west coast operations have largely been seen as a holding pen for internationals transitioning to their US operations.

[Pinion]

Originally Posted by s211

Over the past several years, Microsoft's Canadian west coast operations have largely been seen as a holding pen for internationals transitioning to their US operations.

But but... we're the Best Place on Earth™... world class...

[Alpine]

Could someone in the know please tell me if I should be upset about this? I don't know enough about labour regulations to form an opinion.

Are TFWs going to replace Canadians at the Innovation Centre?

[red-paladin]

Doesn't bother me, as one of the reasons they are setting up shop in Canada was to serve international staff/candidates that couldn't/wouldn't work in the states.
Also only some of the staff will be temporary international, some of the staff will be local Canadians.

Since it was all transparent that this was going to be the case, and since these are new jobs, I think it's completely reasonable.

[Alpine]

Originally Posted by red-paladin

Also only some of the staff will be temporary international, some of the staff will be local Canadians.

Has MSFT made the expected Canadian citizen-TFW employee ratios public?


It still seems like a fairly scummy thing to do. Vancouver could use some big names to up dev salaries. Right now if you don't want to get screwed on salary, your only options are A Thinking Ape, D-Wave, SAP or Mobify.

[quobobo]

Originally Posted by Alpine

Could someone in the know please tell me if I should be upset about this?

I'm a software engineer and I don't think you should be upset. The job market for developers is pretty great here.

(I also believe pretty strongly in open borders regardless of occupation, but I appreciate that not everyone does)

Right now if you don't want to get screwed on salary, your only options are A Thinking Ape, D-Wave, SAP or Mobify.

Also Amazon, some smaller companies, and I believe Microsoft. Good software engineers with a couple years' experience are being paid $100k+ there.

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by s211

Over the past several years, Microsoft's Canadian west coast operations have largely been seen as a holding pen for internationals transitioning to their US operations.

I think the point of this news is that why is MSFT given such a special deal and advantage over other American companies? Also, if this will become more commonplace practice among companies, it might not be so good for local employee base.

Also, one could hope these multinationals building proper side-offices in Vancouver, rather than using us just as a immigration office.

[red-paladin]

These are temporary positions, and the purpose of the facility is partly to train these international workers.

I'm not a big Microsoft fan or anything, but I think that Microsoft opening a new facility that will bring some jobs and economic activity, while educates international staff through there (giving Vancouver expose to international staff), and it would be similar to if Microsoft were running a staff-only education facility that took in international staff / students.

[casper]

Originally Posted by red-paladin

These are temporary positions, and the purpose of the facility is partly to train these international workers.

I'm not a big Microsoft fan or anything, but I think that Microsoft opening a new facility that will bring some jobs and economic activity, while educates international staff through there (giving Vancouver expose to international staff), and it would be similar to if Microsoft were running a staff-only education facility that took in international staff / students.

I agree, I think it is a positive. If it turns Vancouver into a key training facility for the internal staff that is a good passion. This facility could be located anywhere in the world.

[LeftCoaster]

From what I understand the bulk of MSFTs employees at 725 Granville will be full time permanent staff. It's awfully expensive real estate to use as a transition office.

[s211]

From my past understanding, these "internationals" were also considered full-time permanent when they were housed here in the past. They'd work on specific projects and the like, but it was always the intent they'd be moving south.

[dreambrother808]

The current Microsoft staff does not seem very temporary nor international. I work in the area of their current offices and most seem to be Canadian or American. They develop Gears of War and other unrelated Microsoft endeavours.

[Pinion]

The guys doing the next Gears of War used to be called Black Tusk and were a local company bought by MS. It will be their first Gears of War game - they didn't make the previous ones and the franchise is on life support at this point.