Discuss Detroit » Archives - July 2007 » Windsor should use it's border advantage « Previous Next »
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Dtwphoenix
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Username: Dtwphoenix

Post Number: 57
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Friday, July 13, 2007 - 2:09 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

After reading the article Uh - O Canada:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/zd/200 70712/tc_zd/211437
http://www.eweek.com/article2/ 0,1895,2157871,00.asp

It makes me wonder why Windsor can't take better advantage of Canada's more open immigration laws for tech workers. Similar to Microsoft opening a design center in Vancouver, Windsor is in a prime position to be the location of satellite offices for US Midwest businesses. These business' satellite offices would be in the detroit metro area, with easy access to DTW but not be subject to the US's H-1B visa rules.

Windsor would have businesses to recruit from Cleveland,Columbus,Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Chicago,Grand Rapids,Detroit. There are many foreign graduate students at midwestern universities that wouldn't normally be able to stay in the area after graduation.

If the border crossing was more efficient, these offices would even be a draw for US citizen tech workers that could commute in from Metro Detroit. If it were possible for the US workers and their dependants to be covered under Canada's health care system, this might be a comparative advantage for windsor based offices as well.

people are always complaining about the brain drain. Windsor has the opportunity to reverse that trend.
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Upinottawa
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Username: Upinottawa

Post Number: 901
Registered: 09-2005
Posted on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 - 9:01 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

DTW, you appear to be ahead of your time. From today's Windsor Star:

http://www.canada.com/windsors tar/news/story.html?id=8bcc73c a-7006-4aff-9343-8af96db17d90

City's ethnic diversity called economic boon

Grace Macaluso, with files from Dalson Chen, Windsor Star
Published: Wednesday, July 18, 2007

With its culturally diverse population, proximity to the U.S. and research talent, Windsor could duplicate Vancouver's success in attracting high-tech giants like Microsoft, says a University of Windsor professor.

"We can promote our expertise and sell research that's going on at the university and private companies," says Majid Ahmadi, a professor of electrical engineering.

Earlier this month, Microsoft announced it would open a new office in Vancouver this fall to develop software programs and draw new talent from Canada, the U.S. and abroad. The company said it chose a Canadian location in part because Canada's immigration policies aren't as restrictive as those in the United States.

"Due to Sept. 11, the U.S. has tightened visa requirements," said Ahmadi. "As a result, major companies see that the well of foreign expertise is drying up."

"Canada and Windsor can become the beneficiaries of current U.S. policies."

The city's proximity to the U.S. market makes it a "perfect" location for corporations looking to establish branch plants, added Ahmadi.

Matthew Fischer, CEO of the Windsor-Essex Economic Development Corporation, noted that Windsor's standing as the fourth most culturally diverse city in Canada must be better promoted.

According to a 2001 community profile done by Statistics Canada, more than 58,000 of Windsor's population speak languages other than English and French, and more than 55,000 people who live here are foreign-born.

The 2001 data also indicates that 35,000 Windsorites belong to a visible minority. Arabs top the list, with 7,440 respondents identifying themselves in that category. They're followed by blacks (7,150), South Asians (5,655), and Chinese (5,085).

South Asian refers to countries of the Indian subcontinent, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Other visible minorities in Windsor whose numbers exceed 2,000 are Southeast Asians, Filipinos and Latin Americans.

Southeast Asian refers to such countries of origin as Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

"The diversity here is really quite remarkable -- we are one of the premier locations in Canada for new immigrants," said Fischer. "The majority are economic immigrants with a range of skills, education and languages. But we're not taking full advantage of our diversity."

He said the commission is planning to take "an inventory of the region's research and development assets" as a first step toward selling Windsor-Essex to potential investors.

Ahmadi suggests the city launch an aggressive advertising campaign aimed at promoting the region's potential to corporations around the world.

"The city needs to create a capability guide to get the word out on what we are all capable of."

© The Windsor Star 2007
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Goat
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Username: Goat

Post Number: 9555
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 - 9:15 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The problem is we have a local gov't that is inept at all levels. Except for their own ego's and posturing this council and mayor just don't have a clue.
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Upinottawa
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Username: Upinottawa

Post Number: 902
Registered: 09-2005
Posted on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 - 9:23 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Ironically, if Detroit was a booming metropolis, Windsor would have no trouble attracting workers who wanted the benefits of living in Canada (immigration, healthcare, etc.) but wanted to live on Detroit's doorstep.
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Dtwphoenix
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Username: Dtwphoenix

Post Number: 58
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 - 5:03 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Conversely, if Windsor were a booming metropolis, the city of Detroit would have no trouble attracting workers/residents that want to live near their jobs in Windsor while continuing to reside in the United States.

(Message edited by dtwphoenix on July 18, 2007)
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Islandman
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Username: Islandman

Post Number: 699
Registered: 08-2004
Posted on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 - 5:22 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

DTW, I think the word you are looking for is conversely. You are both correct.
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Upinottawa
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Username: Upinottawa

Post Number: 906
Registered: 09-2005
Posted on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 - 9:26 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Fair enough, but Windsor is the tail and Detroit the dog. Rarely does the tail actually wag the dog.... Although it would be great if Windsor could attract investment for Detroit.

That being said, if Windsor can attract needed international workers, then Detroit area businesses could reap the rewards.

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