Innovative initiative will connect Calgary's tech talent to well-paying jobs

CALGARY, Oct. 4, 2018 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is investing in an innovative Calgary-based company that has developed a business model to help diversify Alberta's economy, bolster the province's tech sector and create well-paying middle class jobs now and in the future. 

Today, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, and Kent Hehr, Member of Parliament for Calgary Centre, on behalf of the Honoruable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada, announced a repayable contribution of $500,000 to MobSquad, a Calgary-based company that employs top-tier Calgary-based software engineers whose skills are assigned to U.S. technology firms facing an engineering talent gap. This investment will support MobSquad's start-up and growth.

This initiative aims to employ up to 100 software engineers and programmers in Calgary by 2021. This will create an attractive base for technology companies and help spark growth in this sector.  Calgary is well positioned for further investment attraction due to its high rate of post-secondary education attainment, available office space, and comparably lower office and apartment rental costs.

Canada'sInnovation Agenda promotes clean growth, good jobs and higher living standards for the middle class. Fostering a workforce with strong digital skills like coding and software engineering is becoming increasingly vital to growth across all sectors of the economy.  The investment announced today is an example of this vision in action.

Quick Facts

• Calgary is one of the most competitive tech markets in Canada.
• Calgary has seen a 55% increase in private technology companies in the past four years.

Quotes

"To face the challenges of today and tomorrow, we need to continue to invest in innovation that creates new high quality jobs within a technology focused economy. By supporting MobSquad's innovative model for attracting and retaining tech sector talent, we are building a better Canada. I am proud to support this exciting initiative to help match Calgary's skills with the world's needs."
- The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship and Member of Parliament for York South-Weston

"I am proud to celebrate the Government of Canada's investment in MobSquad. As the  Member of Parliament for Calgary Centre, I believe it is important to support initiatives that enhance skills in the technology sector while at the same time build upon our regional strengths and create well-paying middle-class jobs."
- Kent Hehr, Member of Parliament for Calgary Centre

"MobSquad is positioned to create high quality software development jobs right here in Canada. We will foster talent attraction and development, reversing the brain drain and attracting skilled immigrants to drive the Alberta and Canadian economies forward."
- Irfhan Rawji, Founder & CEO, MobSquad

Additional Links

• Western Economic Diversification Canada
• Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
• MobSquad Website
• Innovation Agenda

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SOURCE Western Economic Diversification Canada