Oftentimes, conversations around immigration focus solely on labour supply. But in the face of demographic challenges for our region, immigrants are not only helping fill jobs – they’re creating them.
Immigrant-owned businesses across Canada generate billions in revenue and wages, make significant contributions to the GDP, and employ hundreds of thousands of people.
At a time when many businesses are facing succession challenges and business closures outnumber new startups, this matters more than ever, particularly for small provinces like PEI.
Our economy is not only trying to grow, in many cases, it’s trying to sustain itself. As business owners retire and our population ages, the challenge is not whether we can grow, but whether we can keep business doors open at all.
This is a vital gap immigrant entrepreneurs fill. They’re opening businesses, investing in communities, and stepping into opportunities that might otherwise be lost, helping maintain services and keep local economies moving.
Many immigrant entrepreneurs also maintain strong connections to international markets, helping expand the business community beyond provincial and national borders.
If we want to strengthen our business community, support economic growth, and ensure long-term sustainability, we need to recognize the important economic contributions these entrepreneurs bring. That means creating an environment where immigrant entrepreneurs can succeed, with access to capital, reduced barriers to starting and growing a business, and strong community integration all playing a role.
It also means recognizing something fundamental: This is not a new story. Just look at PEI’s history. From French, Irish, Scottish, Lebanese, Chinese, and Dutch communities, among many others, each wave has helped shape the Island’s economy.
It’s not about whether immigrant entrepreneurs can contribute – they already have and continue to do so. It’s time to recognize this contribution, support those who have already put down roots, and ensure we are welcoming the next entrepreneurs who will help grow our economy.
Madeline Biso
Policy Analyst & Media Relations Manager
Greater Charlottetown Chamber of Commerce