Prince Edward Island rejects federal plan to expand temporary foreign worker hiring

Prince Edward Island became the only Atlantic province to opt out of Ottawa's temporary measure that would permit rural employers to raise the share of low-wage temporary foreign workers to 15 per cent. The provincial government said a review of the proposal, including talks with a handful of employers, showed the change was not required right now and that other immigration options remain available. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business and the Greater Summerside Chamber of Commerce expressed concern that the move may deepen labour gaps in accommodation, food services, tourism, seafood processing, farming, manufacturing and retail.

They noted that many local workers are not applying for these positions, leaving businesses reliant on migrant labour. Advocates for migrant workers highlighted that fewer temporary hires could reduce exposure to exploitative closed-work-permit arrangements, but called for broader reforms to the program.