Summerside and Charlottetown Chambers highlight the impact of the recent reduction in immigration permits on PEI's economy
On Thursday, June 6, 2024 representatives from the Greater Summerside Area Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce presented their insights and recommendations to the Standing Committee on Education and Economic Growth.
Among the speakers was Blake Doyle, Past President of the GSCC, with an extensive background in immigration and human resources. As a Certified Human Resource Professional and a Registered Canadian Immigration Consultant, Doyle brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the discussion, addressing the predictable and avoidable challenges faced by the region.
You can watch the presentation on YouTube here:
In his comments, Doyle addressed:
Impact of Reduced Immigration Permits on PEI's Economy: The recent 25% reduction in immigration permits is leading to a shortage of workers in crucial industries like tourism, restaurants, and skilled professions. This policy is negatively impacting businesses, leading to reduced operating hours, closures, and a loss of revenue.
Challenges in Immigration Policy and Implementation: The immigration policy lacks a strategic approach and fails to consider the long-term consequences on the labor market. The arbitrary nature of permit reductions and the lack of organized recruitment efforts by the province are causing disruptions in workforce availability, affecting economic stability and growth.
Recommendations for Improvement: Doyle suggests several recommendations to improve the situation:
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- Prioritize immigration applicants who have demonstrated commitment to PEI by working there for at least a year.
- Encourage retention of PEI graduates by inviting them to apply for permanent residency.
- Offer invitations to all employable skilled workers and adjust the scoring system to be fairer to single individuals.
- Implement foreign recruitment licensure processes for accountability.
- Engage in better consultation with employers and business representatives to create responsive and effective demand forecasting metrics.
In an interview with CBC, Doyle says "Hopefully the committee liked what they heard and can enact many of them."
The presentation of the two Chambers highlighted the significant impact of the recent reduction in immigration permits on PEI's economy, stressing the urgent need for a more strategic and inclusive approach to immigration policy. The speakers emphasized the critical role of foreign workers in sustaining key industries and proposed several recommendations, including prioritizing long-term residents and PEI graduates for immigration, adjusting the scoring system for fairness, and implementing better accountability in foreign recruitment.
The call for better consultation with businesses and more responsive demand forecasting underscores the necessity of a collaborative effort to ensure sustainable economic growth and stability for PEI.