Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cited the University of Waterloo today as he talked about Canada’s efforts to stem the brain drain to the United States.
Speaking at the Go North conference on artificial intelligence (AI) in Toronto, Trudeau listed stability, immigration and proximity to a “pipeline of raw talent” as key factors in the growth of the Waterloo-Toronto technology corridor and the local opportunities it offers.
“We were tired of watching Google poach away our best graduates from University of Waterloo and suck them down to California,” Trudeau said.
“They’re really, really good,” quipped Eric Schmidt, executive chairman of Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, who shared the stage with the prime minister during an informal chat.
'There is an opportunity here'
Trudeau told the Google-hosted event that Canada has chosen to embrace, rather than resist, the accelerating pace of technological change and is investing in key areas such as AI to be at the forefront of the resulting revolution.
“I just think that Canadians realize better than most that there is an opportunity here, as we look at more automation, as we look at more science, as we look at more investments in innovation, in new ideas, in disruptive ideas,” he said.
Trudeau said the country’s strengths – including diversity and tolerance – mean that many of those who go south to work in high-tech fields return after realizing “it’s better to start a family here and build a future in Canada.”
Watch the full discussion: