[notirk]

The cities are geographically close, but there is an international border between them. Canada has more open immigration laws opening up Amazon to a much wider talent pool. Considering that major difference, there could be a strong case made for having these major offices close by for in person collaboration.

[scj]

While we are friendly to immigration, Canadian citizens will need to work there too (in order for government incentives to be doled out)... Otherwise, the public will eventually demand those benefits rescinded.

As a ballpark number, if Amazon wants to hire 50k people, I'd imagine they'd need at least 20k Canadians. So I suspect they'll need to convince Canadian programmers to move there.

I can't pretend to speak for all Canadian citizens, but given the choice:

1. Move to the most expensive real estate market in the country, where the raise in wages wouldn't account for the price difference in housing costs. To work for an employer with Amazon's reputation towards employees... (that's the most polite way I could put that)

2. Immigrate to SV under a TN visa, with the chance of working on interesting valley projects.

Despite both options having a crazy housing market, #2 is much more attractive. The value proposition can be changed though. I'd move in a heartbeat if the same wages were available in Montreal. Same for any Canadian city other than Vancouver and Toronto.

[ojbyrne]

Assuming the TN visa is still around in a year.