Prince Edward Island is slowing down immigration as it struggles to catch up with more housing and infrastructure to welcome more newcomers.

“PEI, like many jurisdictions, is faced with finding the right balance of welcoming new residents to our Island workforce and relieving the pressure population growth has on our increasingly stressed public services and infrastructure system,” says provincial Premier Dennis King.

“Whether it’s building more housing or having enough staff in our child care, education or healthcare system, we know that we need highly trained, skilled workers to grow these systems sustainably.

“That’s why the temporary changes we are introducing today on reducing our use of immigration nominations by 25 per cent and ensuring the remaining nominations are aligned with key sectors will help balance skilled labour needs and allow sufficient time for infrastructure and services like healthcare, housing and early learning catch up to what our province needs.”

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Under a new plan introduced during the last week of February, Growing Together: A Population Framework for Prince Edward Island, the province is hoping to create a sustainable approach to manage its growth.

The framework lists five priorities:

• expanding critical infrastructure and public services;
• building and retaining the province’s workforce;
• supporting land-use planning and environmental sustainability;
• enhancing community connectedness and a sense of belonging and;
• long-term planning and reporting.

Growing Together Plan Focuses On Five Priorities For Island Province

“The new framework gives us the right flexibility to adapt to population and other demographic shifts so that we can give our public system what it needs to not only fill its current gaps but resource them to respond appropriately to the demands of our growth,” says Jenn Redmond, the province’s minister of workforce, advanced learning and population.

“We need to grow a healthy and sustainable workforce by training those who live here, attracting highly skilled people to fill our workforce shortages, and retaining them so that we can offer the programs and services our residents need.”

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The province is going to reduce its use of the allotted annual federal immigration nominations by 25 per cent for this year.

The remaining 75 per cent of nominations will be redistributed to align with nine provincial sectors, with a strong emphasis on nominating skilled workers in healthcare, trades, childcare, and other key industries facing labour shortages.

The Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) expedites immigration to Canada for individuals and their families and welcomes immigrants through three streams:

• Prince Edward Island Express Entry.
• Prince Edward Island Labour Impact.
• Prince Edward Island Business Impact.

Prince Edward Island also welcomes immigrants through the joint federal-provincial Atlantic Immigration Program.