The provincial government has announced a new immigration initiative targeted at those with skills in high-demand employment sectors, but the official opposition is not impressed.
Yesterday, the province announced Priority Skills Newfoundland and Labrador.
Newcomers with either a MUN Masters Degree or PhD in a number of high-demand areas—or those who have at least one year of work experience in those areas, can apply for the program, which will get them their residency faster.
(File photo.)
Opposition critic Paul Dinn says five years ago, the Liberal Government came out with a comprehensive human resources plan for the province designed to address future labour gaps.
Dinn contends that the province failed in this regard since they are now saying businesses are having a hard time filling positions.
He supports immigration initiatives but says government isn’t looking at the big picture.
Meanwhile, Premier Andrew Furey maintains confidence in the program, which he says will help address some of the other issues at play.
Furey says the Priority Skills initiative will help solve what he calls the “demographic crisis” this province is facing and help address concerns businesses are facing.
The Premier says the program is part of the bigger plan to address other issues. He explains that the demographic issue is at the crux of the problem.
Other issues such as high co-morbidity rates and low fertility rates are also present. He calls the new program “baby steps” to address those issues as well.
