Canada eyes researchers looking to leave 'hostile' US

American epidemiologist Sheryl Magzamen has relocated from the United States to Canada due to restrictive funding for her research on the connection between climate change and health. The University of Montreal welcomed her as a researcher, providing her with ample resources for long-term studies. Magzamen has also begun learning French to integrate into Quebec, Canada's majority-Francophone region.

Following President Donald Trump's return to office, Canadian institutions have actively pursued leading U.S.-based researchers who may be considering relocation. The University Health Network, for instance, opened its doors to foreign experts, including U.S. scientists focusing on vaccine research. President Trump has criticized certain American universities for allegedly having a left-wing bias and prioritizing climate science, which he views skeptically.

Philippa Zamore, a molecular biology professor from the University of Massachusetts, is set to join McGill University in Montreal in April. He described the political climate in the U.S. as hostile towards science, citing numerous grant withdrawals and a counterproductive approach towards scientific progress. Laval University in Quebec City has already hired 15 U.S. researchers during the Trump administration, thanks to state control over scientific endeavors.

Canada is not the only nation seeking talent from elite U.S. institutions. The European Union has allocated 500 million euros from 2025 to 2027 to attract U.S.-based researchers. France has also identified 60 foreign scientists it aims to recruit, mostly from the United States. McGill University's vice president for research and innovation, Dominique Berube, considered the competition for U.S. talent as healthy and an opportunity to bring in specialists in various fields, such as artificial intelligence, medicine, and aerospace.