Gad Saad Leaves Montreal for U.S. on Elite Visa

Gad Saad, the outspoken Concordia University professor known for his vociferous critiques of what he calls "woke" culture and his uncompromising stance against antisemitism, announced Monday he's relocating to the United States this summer.

Saad, 62, broke the news during an appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, revealing he'd secured an EB-1A visa—a green card designation reserved for individuals deemed to possess "extraordinary ability" in their field. The move marks a significant departure for a figure who's been a fixture in Montreal's intellectual landscape for years, often appearing on local media and speaking at city institutions.

The professor had already taken a leave of absence from Concordia and was serving as a visiting scholar at another institution when he applied for the visa. His departure comes amid broader conversations about brain drain in Canada, particularly among academics and public intellectuals who cite regulatory and cultural climates as factors in their decisions to relocate.

Saad's exit reflects a larger pattern where prominent voices in academia and commentary are reassessing their Canadian bases. While the specifics of his new role in the U.S. remain under wraps, his decision underscores the competitive pressure institutions face when retaining high-profile faculty members who command significant audiences and platforms.

For Montreal's media and academic circles, Saad's departure represents the loss of a regular contributor to local discourse, regardless of whether one agreed with his positions.