Board of Trade Calls for Immediate Reversal of Immigration Allocation Cuts by Federal Immigration Minister

St. John’s, NL – The Board of Trade is calling for the federal government to immediately reverse recent cuts to immigration allocations and adopt a more flexible approach that reflects the unique needs of each province, warning that these reductions will have severe consequences for businesses and residents in Newfoundland and Labrador.

“A 50% cut, without considering Newfoundland and Labrador's specific demographics, is a significant oversight,” said AnnMarie Boudreau, CEO of the Board of Trade. “Blanket policies that fail to account for regional differences and nuances do little to address our unique labour market demands.”

This significant reduction, from last year’s allocation, comes at a time when the province is experiencing an urgent need for skilled workers to support economic growth and address critical labour shortages.

“I question why the federal government has made this decision considering businesses are already working incredibly hard to stay competitive,” continued Boudreau. “Without those workers, some businesses won’t be able to sustain themselves at all. We need decisions that better reflect the specific needs of Newfoundland and Labrador.”

Newfoundland and Labrador’s demographic challenges, coupled with the increasing demand for skilled labour in sectors like healthcare, hospitality, construction, and retail, among others, make it essential to have a strong immigration pathway.

“Healthcare is one of the sectors that absolutely depends on immigrants choosing to live and work here. I don’t know how our business - and our province - will be able to meet the care needs without more immigration,” said Anne Whelan, CEO of Seafair. “New Canadians are essential to what we do, and their hard work directly impacts patient care and the strength of our system. Reducing immigration will certainly leave large gaps in the care system and businesses like ours will struggle. I strongly urge the federal government to rethink this decision.”

With an aging population and worker shortages, lowering immigration will only hurt our economy. We depend on our ability to attract and retain new talent, and reversing immigration cuts is a necessary step toward securing long-term growth and sustainability.

The Labrador Chamber of Commerce and The Board of Trade, along with concerned businesses, recently sent a Letter of Concern to the Federal Immigration Minister. Click here to view the letter.
 

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