Immigration

Immigration on Prince Edward Island

The Chamber recently hosted an Immigration Forum that explored ways that the Island business community can create a welcoming environment so that newcomers will choose to remain in our province, invest in businesses, contribute to the diversity of our workforce, and continue to be active participants in our Island economy. The following presentations were made at the Forum and offer insight into this complex issue.

Immigration Opportunities: The Challenge & Opportunities for Business Leaders by Blake Doyle, Octavian Group

Immigration & Economic Development in Halifax: Some Ideas by Fred Morley, Executive Vice President, Chief Economist, Greater Halifax Partnership

Increase the Attraction and Retention of Immigrants to Mid-size and Smaller Urban Centers

Small Canadian communities are confronted with a pending economic crisis. Populations are aging, birthrates have witnessed significant decline, young workers are increasingly mobile and community sustainability is reliant on the productivity of a depleting workforce.

In an effort to ensure the continued viability of census agglomeration communities, those between 10,000 and 100,000 persons, aggressive immigration policies are required. Immigration endorsement is perhaps the most effective option to offset the impacts of shifting demographics in these smaller communities. Without coordinated action many communities will experience an accelerated decline in economic prosperity while being challenged to support the services required of the shrinking population.

Immigration must be encouraged outside Canadian Census Metropolitan Areas, larger urban cities with populations over 100,000 persons. Comprehensive immigration policies must be adapted to include the attraction of knowledge capital, human capital and investment capital; while ensuring newcomers remain within the community which welcomed them.

 Recommendation: Call upon the Federal Government to address the unique needs of smaller urban centers by:

1. Encourage the Federal Government, through Citizenship and Immigration, to work aggressively with smaller urban centers to encourage immigration. This can be accomplished through:

• Streamlining the immigration process: simplify and accelerate.
• Provide more local autonomy on the immigration selection criteria: in response to local needs.
• Reduce any regional capping or generalized criteria restrictions.
• Allow for more flexibility in regional requirements and local deficiencies.

1. Encourage open collaboration between the Federal Government, provinces and smaller urban centers to develop innovative integration strategies, which equitably benefit all regions.  
2. Reduce the minimum investment required under the Provincial Nominee Programs to allow small and emerging businesses access to capital under the Programs

 Submitted by: Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce

Click here for "Immigrant Entrepreneurs on The Gentle Island" Author: Godfrey Baldacchino

Click here to view Immigration Facts and Figures for 2008 from Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Click here for a copy of the PEI Poplation Secretariat's "A Guide for Newcomers"

Immigrant Entrepreneurs on Prince Edward Island Author: Godfrey Baldacchino

Immigration and Settlement on PEI

Click here to view APEC guide for hiring International workers