Hiring US citizens

[Earlyriser]

For radio jobs in Canada-how does it happen, and does it happen?

 

[Yeziknoradio]

Ask Adam Styles, weather man over at City TV Toronto.
He is from California.
Sure, that's the TV side, but he might have some advice
for those on the American side wanting to do something in radio here.
Good luck!

 

[fmradio1]

Isn't David Corey, VP/Programming for CHUM, an American? He was assistant PD at Kiss 108/Boston for many years before moving to Toronto and becoming PD at CHUM in the mid 2000's. He might be the guy to talk to.

 

[choicevoicepro.com]

While there are some Americans working in Canada, I'm fairly certain that it is frowned upon....Back in the 80’s when I was in Buffalo, a weekend opening occurred at CFTR – I applied.

They were interested but explained the realities – I was told that they would have to show “a compelling reason” that the job should be given to someone other than a Canadian.

And interestingly when I hosted a TV show in Buffalo we taped a few of the shows at a dinner theatre in Toronto. On the way over we were detained for some time – the border patrol was very curious about exactly what we would be doing while in Canada. The made us unpack everything… and specifically asked if we were “working” in Canada.

Retrospectively I don’t wonder why Americans aren’t more protective of jobs in this way.

 

[Yeziknoradio]

While there are some Americans working in Canada, I'm fairly certain that it is frowned upon....Back in the 80’s when I was in Buffalo, a weekend opening occurred at CFTR – I applied.

They were interested but explained the realities – I was told that they would have to show “a compelling reason” that the job should be given to someone other than a Canadian.

Are you sure that was the 80's and not the early 90's? Was this before or after
the Don Stevens days? Don was the PD in the early 90's and he was the biggest A**Hole!
I don't think he should count when using examples in this thread.

 

[choicevoicepro.com]

Honestly, (it was a long time ago) I don’t remember who the PD was at the time… it was likely 84 or 85. By the early 90’s I was in Denver and in ’93 in DC. BTW: I DO remember that Rivers was doing mornings at the time and he sounded freakin’ awesome.

 

[Yeziknoradio]

Yes, Tom Rivers was Amazing. He was morning man at CFTR right into the early 90's when Jesse and Gene took over.

Sadly, he passed away in 2004. RIP Tom! You're greatly missed.

 

[nocomradio]

Here in the States, if you want to hire someone from another country that isn't a Green Card holder, you must prove a need for them to INS. Mainly, that they provide a skill that no one in the US possesses. Then you must advertise the job opening for at least 6 months and interview any applicants, providing documented proof of that and why they were not hired before you can then offer employment to anyone from overseas. (or, overborder)

I'd bet Canada has a similar system in place. Every time I have ever crossed the border into Canada, the question that pops up with alarming frequency is "Are you coming here to work?" Seems that is the main concern to Canadian officials.

 

[Yeziknoradio]

Now, honestly, in today's times, who said anything about crossing the border?
What if it's a border town radio station? (or stations?)
Why not simply be employed by the Canadian radio station to do VT for the American station?
(or vice versa)
The VTs can be sent through email/internet to that station...right?
Or perhaps have your own home studio.
(which most likely would have been intended for voice work etc anyway...)

Something like that...

 

[nocomradio]

What it REALLY boils down to, more than anything else is simply revenue. If a person isn't a citizen, the aren't documented (either side of the border) and as such, they technically don't exist. If they don't exist on paper, they cannot be taxed. The government in question gets a little testy when they aren't getting their cut.

Doing it in a "cross-border" arrangement may work for a while, but as soon as the IRS or Canadian equivalent gets wind of it, they will want their taxes. I could see it getting difficult that way too.

 

[fmradio1]

With technology, a station could hire a talent from the other side of the border to voicetrack a shift and pay them as a "voiceover" person. It would be like buying jingles or promotional swag from across the border. It's just another business expense. However, the talent would not be an official employee of the station, and would be responsible for declaring that income on their taxes, no matter where it's origination or which nation they're citizens of.

I know of a few instances of Canadian radio pros living and working in the States. Steve Jones, who once was the programming head at Newcap, crossed the border several years back to program adult hits WMKK/Boston (now all sports WEEI-FM.) Longtime Canadian talker Charles Adler worked in Boston for awhile doing a TV show for a local station and some radio work for WRKO. He's even subbed a few times for Sean Hannity on Fox News.

And I remember hearing a story many years ago about a longtime Montreal personality for an Anglo station who commuted across the border from the US every day to work for well over 30 years. His name escapes me but he's long since retired...

 

[RBW]

Every time I have ever crossed the border into Canada, the question that pops up with alarming frequency is "Are you coming here to work?" Seems that is the main concern to Canadian officials.

You must be telling them you're going over for a month or more! I go back & forth 2 or 3 times a year and have NEVER been asked that! ---- since usually the first question is... "how long will you be in Canada?" ;D

 

[nocomradio]

You must be telling them you're going over for a month or more! I go back & forth 2 or 3 times a year and have NEVER been asked that! ---- since usually the first question is... "how long will you be in Canada?" ;D

No, generally I go as a tourist on my motorcycle when I am staying with some friends outside of Detroit. Usually its a day trip and I have almost no luggage or stuff with me, as I travel pretty light and leave the bulk of my things at my friends house.

Maybe I just look industrious or something.... ;D

 

[Yeziknoradio]

Another thing for the Canadians to remember is, if you're gone from Canada for more than 6 months, you LOSE all your health care benefits.

I'm not sure how that applies to the Americans that come here to work, but I hope they have some sort of Blue cross or something...life is unpredictable!!!

 

[cyberdad]

Every time I have ever crossed the border into Canada, the question that pops up with alarming frequency is "Are you coming here to work?" Seems that is the main concern to Canadian officials.

You must be telling them you're going over for a month or more! I go back & forth 2 or 3 times a year and have NEVER been asked that! ---- since usually the first question is... "how long will you be in Canada?" ;D

I cross the border about a half dozen times or so each year. The question is generally "purpose of your trip"? The answer is "business". After which we establish that I work for an American company. My customers are Canadian companies that do business in the U.S. A couple of routine questions regarding the nature of my business, etc. and that's that.

 

[Bob1370]

It's not unusual for Americans to be hired by Canadian stations. West-coaster Charlie Van Dyke, the late Floridian Hal Martin (better known in the US by his real name, Mike Spears) and Buffalo native Tommy Shannon were mainstays for years at CKLW. Toronto woke up to Jungle Jay Nelson (also from Buffalo) and rocked at night with Jack Armstrong (a North Carolina native who later went TO Buffalo and WKBW)...not to mention Scott Carpenter, who had a great run at CHUM and later became a successful talk host in Washington, DC before leaving the biz to become a computer whiz. And let's not forget Baltimore native Andy Barrie, who moved permanently to Canada in the late 60s and won a big following at CFRB and later CBC Radio One. Hiring across the border happens all the time.

 

[mjlarochelle]

And I remember hearing a story many years ago about a longtime Montreal personality for an Anglo station who commuted across the border from the US every day to work for well over 30 years. His name escapes me but he's long since retired...

You're probably thinking of Bill Haughland at CFCF-TV, who commuted every day from Vermont.

 

[ksradiogeek]

Isn't David Corey, VP/Programming for CHUM, an American? He was assistant PD at Kiss 108/Boston for many years before moving to Toronto and becoming PD at CHUM in the mid 2000's. He might be the guy to talk to.

Joey Brooks is American. Originally from Boston.

 

[borderblaster]

Wasnt John Landecker of WLS fame at CFTR for awhile?

 

[Yeziknoradio]

Wasnt John Landecker of WLS fame at CFTR for awhile?

Yes, but that was back in the early 80's. A very different time.