I really think Montreal lacks PR. I have a lot of friends from high school (Toronto) and university (Ottawa) who work in IT (managers, directors, team leads) who come to visit me in Montreal and laugh at me when I tell them they should consider moving out from Ottawa and Toronto to Montreal (to start their own company or work for some of our clients).

They say Montreal is only good for two things: pretty girls and booze/partying. They are scared of having to learn French language, and bike to work. They find it crazy that most people commute to work via bus / bike as they have been doing 401 in their Acura going to Mississauga or downtown down DVP from their suburbia for the last 4-5 years. They are scared of paying higher taxes. They complain about pot holes all over the city of Montreal and bad highways... They are worried their kids wont be able to go to English schools.

I remember the days of me going to Carleton, university in Ottawa and coming out to party in Montreal over the weekends – I was like them – clueless fool. After school wrapped up, most went / found work in Toronto and/or Ottawa, I think only a few moved to Montreal. We had virtually no recruiters coming out from Montreal to recruit, but like 90% from Toronto. When I moved to Montreal, it took me about a year or so to get used to living (love) in Montreal as it is completely different city from Toronto and even Ottawa.

I think all those above factors contribute to shortage of good IT professionals in Montreal. We have a great influx of newly arrived immigrants - but it is sad that to see that people from countries as far as France, Morocco, China are willing to come and work in Montreal yet local Canadian professionals from Ottawa, a mere 1.5 hours away, or Toronto, 5 hours away, do not.

My 2 cents.. That is why I created http://www.MontrealTech.net and http://www.TorontoTech.net to bring to IT communities closer together and raise awareness.