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How the Canadian Tech Scene Encourages Finite Gameplay

alexdanco.com

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Re: How the Canadian Tech Scene Encourages Finite Gameplay

#81

Post by novok »

freeone3000 wrote: post #77
ramraj07 wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is there any bias against non french speaking people though? Spent a year doing my masters and that's what I came away from there with. If experiences of non-francophile immigrants in spinning startups and getting funding is good then that'll be good to know.

If you're not able to speak French, personal bias is a secondary concern. Speaking French in the workplace is legally required. Non-French-speaking immigrants will likely be able to get by in their personal lives with English in Montreal, depending on what you want to do, but if you're selling a product, the product must be available in French. Not complying with these regulations will incur fines from the OQLF.

Selling something in french too isn't the problem, it's how the language of the startup needs to be in french that limits the market significantly. This law is why the center of business moved from montreal to toronto in Canada.

Re: How the Canadian Tech Scene Encourages Finite Gameplay

#82

Post by danlugo92 »

pm90 wrote: post #53
coldtea wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> because they radically changed the world for the better Did Facebook "radically changed the world for the better"? Did Twitter? Did Google, for that matter? Is the control it has amassed, and its imperial impact of business and ideas (and the web itself) a net positive to a good search engine and a OK email service (both of which have gotten worse over time)?

Facebook is the only social media company in “FAANG”. Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Google have, I would argue, materially changed our lives for the better. They created the smartphones that are now ubiquitous and that opened up a whole marketplace of app based tech. They literally created cloud computing which has allowed more companies to focus on product ideas and get off the ground quickly. E-commerce (disrupting re…

I'd rather not have streaming and ecommerce if it meant to not have PR1S M

Re: How the Canadian Tech Scene Encourages Finite Gameplay

#83

Post by novok »

triceratops wrote: post #52
3pt14159 wrote: post #41

I try to be charitable when I critique an article, so Alex please don't take this comment as a personal attack. I appreciate your writing of this article and your efforts to improve Canada. There are some truths in your article and an interesting perspective on the cascading feedback loops, which I think has merit, but there are some factual errors here that I think should be addressed. > The problem with SR&ED credi…

> Most of our workers don't work as hard and they don't have to worry about healthcare costs. I appreciate that you wrote such an otherwise thoughtful post. But as a founder, I think this may be a blind spot for you. Most SV tech employees also don't have to worry about healthcare costs in any meaningful way. At every company I've worked at in the Bay Area, I've only done more than the standard 40 hours/week when I w…

And what is sad, they were still quoting that $70k or $80k 10 years ago too!!!!

Wage stagnation is a big issue in canada, probably is for the rest of the USA too.

Re: How the Canadian Tech Scene Encourages Finite Gameplay

#84

Post by gdsdfe »

freeone3000 wrote: post #77
ramraj07 wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is there any bias against non french speaking people though? Spent a year doing my masters and that's what I came away from there with. If experiences of non-francophile immigrants in spinning startups and getting funding is good then that'll be good to know.

If you're not able to speak French, personal bias is a secondary concern. Speaking French in the workplace is legally required. Non-French-speaking immigrants will likely be able to get by in their personal lives with English in Montreal, depending on what you want to do, but if you're selling a product, the product must be available in French. Not complying with these regulations will incur fines from the OQLF.

"Speaking French in the workplace is legally required" I don't think that's true, this is a big misconception. Unless you're working in a shop or something where you interact with clients directly you don't have to speak French. I work for a multinationale that have over 1000 employees in Montréal and everybody speaks English internally same fory previous job a small company of 40ish people

Re: How the Canadian Tech Scene Encourages Finite Gameplay

#85

Post by gdsdfe »

MartianSquirrel wrote: post #58
MartianSquirrel wrote: post #35

Disclaimer: Clearly biased, I am from Montreal. > That’s part of why I think that if any city in Canada has the potential to actually develop a Bay Area grade startup scene (smaller, sure, but actually the real thing), it’s clearly Montreal I would have to agree with the conclusion of this article, Montreal has: (i) 5 universities very close to each other(i.e. 10 to 20 minutes walk from each other) + Great public tra…

Bonus: there are 56 craft breweries on the island alone

Yep craft beer scene is fantastic!

Re: How the Canadian Tech Scene Encourages Finite Gameplay

#86

Post by freeone3000 »

gdsdfe wrote: post #84
freeone3000 wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you're not able to speak French, personal bias is a secondary concern. Speaking French in the workplace is legally required. Non-French-speaking immigrants will likely be able to get by in their personal lives with English in Montreal, depending on what you want to do, but if you're selling a product, the product must be available in French. Not complying with these regulations will incur fines from the OQLF.

"Speaking French in the workplace is legally required" I don't think that's true, this is a big misconception. Unless you're working in a shop or something where you interact with clients directly you don't have to speak French. I work for a multinationale that have over 1000 employees in Montréal and everybody speaks English internally same fory previous job a small company of 40ish people

English isn't disallowed, but broadcast emails must be also in French, as well as posters, and HR materials, and so on. The OQLF was on our case about a copier that was English-only during our last inspection.

Re: How the Canadian Tech Scene Encourages Finite Gameplay

#87

Post by dismalpedigree »

danlugo92 wrote: post #80
jariel wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not Canadian companies that are 'keeping salaries' low, it's Valley Companies (and to some extent, American companies) that are paying a lot. Also - the USD varies at 1 to 1.5 CDN that has tremendous comparable effects. The 'reason' is that a vastly disproportionate amount of the surpluses go to the winners. '2cnd place is for chumps' - at least in the context of 'winner takes all' games. Everywhere outside of t…

>Who can blame anyone with 'no ties' to Canada moving on for 2x salary? Does that salary increase make up for the lost gov benefits (free healthcate etc?)

When the new employer is likely footing 90%+ of the bill (pretty standard in skilled professional jobs) then the answer is a clear yes. 100k CAD = ~$78k. Somebody making 100k CAD is likely commanding 110-120k USD at a minimum in the US. CAD equivalent is 140-153k CAD. Knock off $2k for healthcare out of pocket. Don’t forget the significantly lower tax burden. The worker cones out significantly ahead.

Re: How the Canadian Tech Scene Encourages Finite Gameplay

#88

Post by hobby-coder-guy »

raverbashing wrote: post #68
DanHulton wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Literally just left a really enjoyable job with a Toronto company for a California company that pays 50% more. This is completely correct.

I'm assuming the number is 50% higher right? like 100CAD to $150k ?

?

Re: How the Canadian Tech Scene Encourages Finite Gameplay

#89

Post by jariel »

danlugo92 wrote: post #80
jariel wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not Canadian companies that are 'keeping salaries' low, it's Valley Companies (and to some extent, American companies) that are paying a lot. Also - the USD varies at 1 to 1.5 CDN that has tremendous comparable effects. The 'reason' is that a vastly disproportionate amount of the surpluses go to the winners. '2cnd place is for chumps' - at least in the context of 'winner takes all' games. Everywhere outside of t…

>Who can blame anyone with 'no ties' to Canada moving on for 2x salary? Does that salary increase make up for the lost gov benefits (free healthcate etc?)

It depends on one's situation.

'Gainfully Employed' people are generally better off in the US. The healthcare there is great - when you are covered.

The risk comes for those unfortunate/unforeseen situations, and of course, when one doesn't have coverage.

Overall - it's one of those factors that goes into the equation - but for a young, single talented person, usually it's not a priority - or - it factors favourably.

It's a good point because for the 'elite economy' - US healthcare is just fine. Good in fact.

For the 'everyone economy' it's arguable that Canadian style (or something like that is better).

The H/C equation kind of reinforces what I am saying: exceptionalism vs. the commons + stability.

Re: How the Canadian Tech Scene Encourages Finite Gameplay

#90

Post by yowlingcat »

coldtea wrote: post #2

Who says it doesn't work? If it produces viable companies, it does work (sure, it might fail to do that, but the parent haven't showed that). Don't have to ve FAANG sized. If anything, in my book, it's more of a societal success and healthier for them to NOT be FAANG sized - and screw the VCs.

I mean, Canada did produce a Shopify, which while not FAANG sized is still a >$100B public tech company that for all intents and purposes is competing with one of the FAANGs (Amazon).
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