I am an American citizen working for a Chinese company and I am moving to Toronto or Vancouver by the end of the year to open an office for the company. What hoops do I have to jump through to get a work permit? I am not seeking permanent resident status. Any advice at all would be extremely helpful! Thanks

It sounds as though the intra-company transferee provisions (NAFTA or Significant Benefit to Canada) would be applicable in your case. If time permits, then an application to a visa office in the USA or China would be the next step. Otherwise an application can be processed at a port of entry. The complexities of a case which involves a new Canadian division would favour a visa office application.