The Vancouver-based athleisure retailer will expand its headquarters in the city and hire the workers over the next five years, after the federal government waived some of the typical requirements for hiring workers for highly skilled positions from abroad. (The Logic)

Talking point: In a press conference Thursday, Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne said Lululemon CEO Calvin McDonald had contacted the federal government and told them the retailer is facing a choice: should it double down on growth in Vancouver or “do we go somewhere else, which would be more welcoming because they have the talent that we need?” Champagne said the government convinced the company that Vancouver was the right choice. This is the second firm that has been recognized under the Canada-British Columbia Immigration Agreement. In 2014, Microsoft hired temporary foreign workers to expand its Vancouver training centre, without being required to complete a labour market impact assessment. McDonald said Lululemon has secured 125,000 square feet of additional office space so far this year.