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I know several Apple employees who have been fighting to be allowed to move from Cupertino to Vancouver, without success.

Sounds like a problem for them specifically. Apple lists jobs in Vancouver.

When I last had a 'man inside', the Vancouver office was only for a specific (set of?) teams. That may have changed in the last couple of years.

If they really want that, they should just get a job in Vancouver with a different employer.

They probably will, but they're pursing the less-disruptive option first.