Advocacy

April 15, 2025

The Honourable Marc Miller
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

Harpreet Kochhar
Deputy Minister
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Ottawa, Ontario

Dear Minister Miller and Deputy Minister Kochhar,

I am writing to you today on behalf of Prince Edward Island’s tourism industry to express our deep concern regarding the recent changes to Immigration policies and more specifically Canada’s Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) program, which now excludes eligibility for employment in the tourism sector. These changes are already having serious and immediate consequences for our industry, and we urge your office to reconsider the implications of this policy shift.

Most notably, we have recently been informed that as a direct result of these changes, Holland College has made the difficult decision to suspend its post-secondary tourism programs. These programs have long served as a critical pipeline of skilled, work-ready graduates who are vital to our industry’s workforce and future growth. The loss of these programs not only hampers our ability to train and employ qualified individuals, but it also has a detrimental impact on both the college’s and our industry’s ability to attract individuals to consider tourism as a career, both internationally and domestically.

Furthermore, these changes to immigration programs are having a ripple effect across industries such as ours. We will not only lose key individuals who are already a part of our workforce, but we also face a serious challenge in attracting potential candidates in the future—both domestically and internationally—due to the lack of adequate post-secondary programs available. The suspension of these vital educational programs significantly limits our ability to build and sustain a skilled workforce, which is critical for the continued growth and success of the tourism sector.

Tourism is one of the top economic drivers for Prince Edward Island. Employing one in ten Islanders, generating over $520m in economic impact, and an estimated $87.9m in provincial tax revenues alone. In addition, our industry contributes substantially to the vibrancy and diversity of our communities. Our sector relies heavily on a combination of domestic and international talent to deliver exceptional visitor experiences, and the removal of PGWP eligibility for tourism roles severely undermines our ability to do so.

We are committed to developing a year-round tourism strategy that will ensure the long-term sustainability and growth of our sector. However, this vision can only be realized if we are able to attract, train, and retain a skilled workforce. By excluding tourism from PGWP eligibility, we are effectively discouraging not just international, but all students from pursuing education and employment in our field, students who have consistently proven to be valuable contributors to both our workforce and our communities.

We respectfully request that the Government of Canada reconsider this decision and work with our industry to find a more balanced and supportive approach. One that recognizes the essential role that tourism plays in regional economies like Prince Edward Island, and that ensures international students continue to see tourism as a viable, supported career path in Canada.

Thank you for your time and attention to this critical matter. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss this further and provide any information or context that may help support a more sustainable path forward.

Sincerely,

Corryn Clemence

CEO