In the Maple Groves of Academe

Anyone unfortunate enough to be looking for academic work in Canada will be familiar with a sentence that invariably appears about two thirds of the way through every job posting: “All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.”

For many new—and not-so-new—Canadian PhDs, this clause is the smallest of bones, the thinnest of lifelines. It is there by law, fulfilling the university’s obligations under changes to the federal Immigration Act that were introduced in 1982, according to which Canadian universities must follow a two-tier advertising and interviewing procedure for filling academic positions.

Implemented as part of a more general strategy to “Canadianize” the national workforce, this policy was a major departure from previous practice, under which universities were under no obligation to advertise their positions in Canada, or to give special consideration to those...