Federal plans to cut immigration numbers will be “a hindrance” for this province and its burgeoning tech industry, says the minister responsible.

Andrew Parsons was addressing a productivity and prosperity summit hosted by the Council of Canadian Innovators at the Sheraton Hotel in St. John’s yesterday.

He called the tech and innovation industry “one of the biggest success stories in this province” with arguably the most future opportunities.

But he says federal government changes could kill that momentum.

“The recent decisions on immigration are going to be a hindrance to this province, going to be a hindrance for this sector,” he said. “Just this morning I had a call from somebody in the industry putting in a job ad, not getting the response on that.

“We’re trying to find that talent, and that’s talent that comes from elsewhere in the world, elsewhere in Canada, and right here in the province. There’s room for everybody in this space. If anything, we just have to continue to tell the story of the opportunities that are there.”

The productivity and prosperity summit was a one-day affair involving leaders in the technology and innovation sector.

Topics included procurement, defence, ocean industries and the critical role the province plays in shaping Canada’s economic future.