Central Labrador is a hub of activity and is set in one of the most beautiful regions of our province and country.

Jan 2025

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 17, 2025

 

Reduction of Immigration Spaces Devastating to Labrador’s Economy

 

The federal government’s rapidly reduced immigration targets will have a devastating impact on Labrador’s economy. The dramatic 50 per cent reduction of economic immigration spaces for the province will result in a significant and swift slowing of the economy, as the bulk of Newfoundland and Labrador’s population growth comes from immigration. As the Premier stated in 2021, immigration is “a key pillar to our success.”

 

While the federal government continues to attempt to abruptly reform the immigration system, we need a balanced and sensible approach. On the heels of the announcement of the new Churchill Falls agreement including the development of Gull Island and expansion to Labrador mining operations in the future, immigration is vital for Labrador and will be our only major source of growth to the workforce in the future.

 

“For projects of this magnitude to advance and Labrador to realize its full economic potential, we need immigrants to fill key roles,” says LNCC CEO Julianne Griffin. “From customer service roles to management and skilled trades, local employers continue to struggle to fill vacant positions. These cuts are making this challenge much more pronounced. Additionally, as our local workforce prepare to avail of employment opportunities on major projects, newcomers will be critical to the operation and growth of local small business.”

 

Labrador’s growth relies on economic immigration. As we stated in October, while the Government of Canada was well-intentioned to welcome a record number of immigrants throughout the past several years, the lack of attention on required infrastructure, social programs, adequate health care and housing has resulted in significant pressures for local communities and businesses across the province, as well as newcomers and their families.

 

The majority of our members are operating in rural and remote northern regions and retention remains a significant challenge. Again, these new changes are abrupt and implemented without consultation with Chambers or employers across the province.

 

“We rely heavily on the Atlantic Immigration Program to fill the gaps in our workforce,” says April Pike, owner of Pike’s Home Hardware Building Center and Pike’s Home Furniture in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. “Without these workers, we are unable to provide the high level of service that our customers expect.  These cuts are very short-sighted, especially considering the recent announcement of the proposed Gull Island development.  The labor pool in our region is already very strained and local employers are struggling to find the logic behind this decision. We know it will severely hamper our ability to grow and lead to a reduction of services in our community.”

 

As an organization representing business, we request the Government of Canada reverse this decision and instead allocate economic immigration spaces based on unique regional labour force needs. We need to move forward with local and regional solutions instead of going backwards and creating a significant labour force crisis for Labrador.

 

 

Julianne Griffin
Chief Executive Officer
Labrador North Chamber of Commerce