This seems most likely. Canada has a very strong connection with labour, which is especially visible when looking at the differing attitudes around unionization

This seems most likely. Canada has a very strong connection with labour, which is especially visible when looking at the differing attitudes around unionization[1]. The social norms dictate that you go to school and then get a good job working for someone else. As a result, high achievers do not normally strive to be entrepreneurs. If there wasn't a bustling tech industry in the US for these people to go to, I expect they would end up aiming to work in established Canadian industries, not setting out to build a tech industry like the US has. [1] https://www.motherjones.com/files/blog_unionization_usa_canada.jpg https://www.motherjones.com/files/blog_unionization_usa_cana...