Washington Targets Canadian Firms While Ottawa Lures Controversial 'Trans' Scholars

After trade negotiations between the United States and Canada fell apart on Aug. 21, President Donald Trump publicly demanded that any Canadian company operating in the U.S. relocate to American soil without delay. In a parallel move, the Canadian government rolled out a $1.7 billion research-recruitment plan aimed at drawing more than 1,000 top scholars and expatriate scientists to the country. The first round includes $541 million in funding for 64 newly hired researchers, with annual grants of roughly $500,000 to $1 million per scholar over eight years, and $37 million earmarked for 63 emerging leaders.

Notable hires are Ethan Zuckerman, a media scholar leaving the University of Massachusetts Amherst for McGill University, and Talia Bettcher, a gender-studies professor moving from California State University to the University of Waterloo to develop new frameworks for trans experiences. Minister of Industry Melanie Joly highlighted the initiative as evidence that Canada is “doubling down” on science while the U.S. pursues its own agenda. The contrasting strategies underscore a growing talent rivalry between the neighboring nations.