Prince Edward Island has decided not to participate in a federal program that would have allowed rural employers to hire additional low-wage temporary foreign workers. The federal initiative aimed to raise the cap on such workers for rural employers in participating regions due to ongoing labor shortages.

The province, after assessing the situation and consulting with local employers, concluded that joining the temporary measures was unnecessary at this time. This decision was met with disappointment by Louis-Philippe Gauthier, the Atlantic vice-president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, who highlighted the challenges faced by rural employers in filling positions, particularly in accommodation and food services.

The review of the federal proposal revealed that about 46 positions across 14 employers in Prince Edward Island could have been affected by the measure, mostly concentrated in accommodation and food services. The province explored alternative solutions, including existing immigration pathways for year-round positions that met the program’s criteria.

According to Gauthier, migrant workers have become essential for many small businesses to maintain regular operations, especially in sectors like restaurants and customer service. The decision of Prince Edward Island not to participate could further strain small and medium-sized businesses already struggling to attract and retain workers, especially for entry-level and seasonal roles.

Gauthier emphasized that hiring temporary foreign workers is not a cost-effective solution for employers, as it involves significant expenses and paperwork. He also dismissed the notion that increasing wages would address the labor shortage issue, citing complexities such as an aging population and changing job preferences among the workforce.

Advocate Joe Byrne from the Migrant Worker Resource Centre at P.E.I.’s Cooper Institute supported the province’s decision, suggesting that fewer migrant workers could mean less vulnerability for these workers. Byrne called for reforms in the closed work permit system to provide migrant workers with more stability and opportunities for permanent residence in Canada.