A leading demographer has indicated that increasing immigration levels to meet labour shortages in Canada is not necessary.
The link is here.
Based on demographics, Foot said he would maintain the existing level of immigration to Canada until 2015, a time when fewer people will be in their 20s. That opinion runs contrary to new policies announced last fall by both the federal and provincial governments.
Notably, Foot's view is contrary to the (popular) perception that immigration levels need to rise in Canada - that it is vitally necessary for our economy.
At the same time, there are numerous indicators of Alberta's severe shortage of workers. Efforts at recruiting individuals within Canada are not succeeding at meeting the demand. A CBC news link already documents the efforts of Alberta companies advertising and recruiting from Eastern Canada: link here.
Here's an excerpt:
One grocery retailer is offering jobs that pay up to $35,000 per year, free airfare, a month's free rent and moving expenses. Philip Roach of Westfair Foods says it's not just the grocery business that's booming. "Every business in Alberta is struggling with recruiting qualified staff," he said.
It could be that while Foot's demographic models may be technically correct, they are simply at odds with the reality in Alberta. Employers are having difficulty in recruitment - and if so, should be able to tap international markets to fulfill their labour needs. The alternative is to risk Alberta's economic growth.
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