Canada could lose a lot of its high-tech talent if the U.S. opens up its immigration system as it is debating doing, recruiting experts warn.

Up until now, American immigration policy has focused mainly on reuniting families.

'The United States is still the big enchilada.' — Immigration Studies Prof. Jeffrey Reitz

Now the U.S. is considering a new system, similar to Canada's, that would give potential immigrants points for qualities such as education and skills.

Recruiting experts who work with the Ottawa area's technology industry say they are concerned about the potential changes.

Sean Fitzpatrick, president and founder of Talentmap, said he is particularly worried about their effect on Canada's ability to attract skilled foreigners.

"We just won't be able to find the immigrants that are going to be very strong for our economy because the U.S. will be sucking them all up," he said.

Michelle Masson, president and CEO of Reid Eddison, a human resources consulting company that advises large technology companies in the Ottawa area, predicted that wouldn't be the only effect.

"There will be more Canadians going into the U.S.," she said.

Microsoft, Oracle lobbying for U.S. changes

The U.S. is looking into the changes partly because of lobbying from members of its own high-tech industry, including Robert Hoffman, who spoke before the U.S. Senate on behalf of Oracle and Microsoft.

He said the current system, in which foreigners are hired mainly on temporary visas, makes it difficult for U.S. companies to retain talent.

"That's the frustration. We have employees at Oracle and Microsoft who believe that the immigration system in this country treats them like second-class citizens," he said. "We couldn't agree with them more."

Don Devoretz, a professor of economics at B.C.'s Simon Fraser University who has testified before the U.S. Senate about the proposed changes, said that system has benefited Canada.

"We've had an advantage over the last 30 years," he said.

U.S. 'first choice' for immigrants: expert

Prof. Jeffrey Reitz, director of the University of Toronto's School of Ethnic and Immigration Studies, said the possible U.S. changes could erase that.

He added that many foreigners are still drawn by the reputation of the U.S., whose economy is more than 10 times bigger, with lower taxes and often higher salaries.

"The United States is still the big enchilada. They're the land of first choice for most," he said.

But until now the only way for foreigners to get into the U.S. was to have a relative or job offer waiting for them there, he added.

"Now they're going to have the option of simply throwing their name in a hopper and try to be assessed on the basis of points, and I think a lot of people are going to do that."