Protesters gain support as P.E.I. government holds firm on immigration changes

Foreign workers on P.E.I. who have been protesting immigration changes for two months got support from advocacy groups Wednesday as the province tries to shed its reputation as "an easy place to obtain permanent residency."

The protesters have been speaking out about changes announced to the provincial government's immigration policy in February that reduced the number of permanent residency nominations for people working in sales and service. The changes prioritized nominations for sectors where the government said it needs the most support: health care, trades, manufacturing, processing, and early learning.

Groups supporting immigrants and people of colour, including the Cooper Institute and BIPOC USHR, held a news conference Wednesday calling on government to exempt the foreign workers already in the province from the new rules. 

"We have to keep getting the message out because it's so critical to the workers but also to our communities that the government finds some flexibility on this," said Joe Byrne of the Cooper Institute. 

Nouhad Mourad, a community relations co-ordinator with BIPOC-USHR, said the workers are being used as scapegoats for the province's housing crisis and shortages in health care. 

"It's very chilling for the immigrant and the racialized communities on P.E.I., so I think anyone and everyone should be standing up with them," she said.

"This isn't about the Indian community, this is about the immigration community, and it also sets a really dangerous precedent for government to just make abrupt changes that impact the lives of residents of this island without any kind of consideration or consultation."

The province's office of immigration said it has met with dozens of the workers to help them find other pathways to stay in P.E.I. 

It said that could include changing professions or pursuing other provincial or federal programs. 

In an emailed statement to CBC News, the province said that while the alternative options "may not meet their expectations, it remains viable options to work permit holders if they wish to exercise those options."

In June, Jenn Redmond, the minister of workforce, advanced learning and population, sent a letter to protest organizer Rupinder Pal Singh that was shared with CBC.

The letter said there will be no changes to the policy for the foreseeable future. 

P.E.I.'s population has been the fastest-growing in Canada for more than a decade, a pace that is unattainable, the letter said.

It said as of May, more than 12,000 people have submitted an expression of interest in hopes of seeking permanent residency through P.E.I., but only 1,590 will be invited to apply.