PILOT is still considered skilled job in canada, despite the negative feelings it brings to unemployed Canucks. More than a year of work experience equivalent to fulltime, which is about 30-35hrs/wk+ in the paperwork, is enough to get chance to sort work permit/immigration visa.
Also, people can use Working Holiday Visa for a year, which is 1yr open work authorisation in the case of Canada, for under 30 or 35, depending on country of nationality (and the reciprocity, ie UK only 30yr max for application). People can then sort regular work permit or residence with job already and being in Canada.
People have done it that way in the past, including helicopter pilots from Australia, Europe or NZ.
The issue with asking for ridiculous amount of hours and twin time for small twins 'Captain', not to mention FO for airlines, that's another story. Not my concern either.