Thanks for the reply.
Is the shortage real or anecdotal? When I was getting my basic licenses, people were talking about the "pilot shortage" both before and after 9/11 but I saw with my own eyes that my instructors and friends were having a hell of a time finding work. A number of them ended up going off to Africa and Asia to fly bush or float operations and were not earning real money, though they were building time and a few of them got their turbine time built up in this manner.
What are realistic time requirements for joining as an FO at a Canadian carrier now? Does the carrier pay for type ratings for something like a Q400 if you're coming in as someone with nothing but piston twin experience?