Bell Canada, the country’s largest telephone and telecommunication company, has admitted its concern regarding the nation-wide waning number of IT specialists. It has been suggested that the only possible route out of the industry’s current crisis is thought the aggressive recruitment of foreign professionals with Canadian skilled visas.

Stephane Boisvert, president of the Bell Enterprises Group said: “If left uncontested, the IT skills gap will create gaps in our economic performance, gaps in our productivity, and gaps in our ability to compete globally. It is in everyone's interest to close those gaps as quickly as possible.”

Mr. Boisvert’s opinion was echoed by Dr Michael Bloom, of the Organisational Effectiveness and Learning for the Conference Board of Canada, who stated that there would be “severe” repercussions, should the industry be unable to significantly increase the numbers of its workforce through Canadian immigration.