Maritime industries, governments concerned with immigration cuts
From CTV Atlantic – “Immigration helped drive-up population growth in the Maritimes in 2024, but this year Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island will only be able to welcome half as many newcomers due to Ottawa’s immigration cut.
“The reduction in immigration numbers is intended to ease pressure on housing but provinces are worried about what it could mean for workforce needs.
“The Construction Association of Nova Scotia says it’s already dealing with a severe shortage in skilled trade workers and adjustments to immigration numbers could only exacerbate the issue and slow down housing development.
“’We were shocked to see those announcements coming at this juncture, when we are trying to fill so many job vacancies at this time in Nova Scotia,’ said Duncan Williams, president and CEO of the Construction Association.
“The federal government cut the number of immigrants allowed to enter Nova Scotia in half from last year’s total.
“Williams says the industry relies heavily on immigration to fill labour gaps.
“‘We have people retiring, we’re an aging as a population and so we need young people coming in and we’re not seeing them come in as fast as we’d like,’ said Williams.”
Read more: Read the full story via CTV Atlantic.