The region's highly publicized skills shortage is, according to government and industry, holding back economic growth in northern B.C.
Attracting foreigners to move here and fill some of the labour gaps is part of the solution being unrolled by various levels of government, economic development agencies, and the firms in need of the help.
In recent months, Initiatives Prince George (IPG) and a number of private sector companies travelled to Ireland and Ontario to pitch this area's opportunities to accredited people in those places. Rio Tinto Alcan disclosed that they had to scale back construction plans on their Kitimat megaproject due to western Canada's labour stress. A coal mine in the Tumbler Ridge area is controversially attempting to import temporary foreign workers. A Prince George sushi restaurant proprietor disclosed that for months she attempted in vain to attract a sushi chef from the local region, then B.C.-wide but none emerged and she is now trying to bring one from Japan to live and work here.
A full day of discussions about this issue has been scheduled for Wednesday, led by IPG, the Prince George Chamber of Commerce and the Immigrant Employment Council of BC (IEC).
Calling it a "solution-focused forum," the event is called Attracting B.C.'s Skilled Immigrants to the North. These are people who are from outside countries but live in Canada already, with Canadian citizenship or landed immigrant status.
"The Prince George regional forum will bring together northern employers and business and community leaders interested in encouraging B.C.'s skilled immigrants to live and work in northern B.C.," said an IEC spokesperson. The discussions will "focus on practical tools, resources and solutions to help northern employers tap into B.C.'s skilled immigrant talent pool."
Co-hosts of the forum will be Kelly Pollack, executive director of IEC; Heather Oland, CEO of IPG; and Jennifer Brandle McCall, CEO of the Prince George Chamber of Commerce.
It runs 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Coast Inn of the North. It is free to attend, but preregistration is encouraged by contacting the Chamber of Commerce.
